Mario Badescu Skin Care.

As I teen, I had to purchase Mario Badescu Drying Lotion after seeing it in an ad in the back of one of my teen magazines. I very rarely got pimples (very lucky in that department), but when I did get one, it was a HUGE throbbing red one with a very large white head. It would arrive on my chin and would last for what seemed like weeks. I remember begging my Mom to order it for me because it promised to dry up pimples fast. I had to have it. She ordered it and it worked! The combination of calamine lotion and salicylic acid was genius. I honestly probably only had one or two runs with it because, again I got maybe one or two pimples a year, but it made an impression on me.

Fast forward many, many years later to a rediscovery of Mario Badescu Skin Care. I love the simple, no non-sense packaging and real approach to skin care. Each product is tailored for a specific need, to work how you need it to.

I had a personal skin care analysis done and received a regimen of products to try. I answered some simple questions such as my age, skin tone, major skin concern (acne, aging, discoloration, dryness) and skin type and the products were selected personally for me.

Before I go into the products that were selected for me, I will tell you what I told them about me and my skin, so that you can understand why they were selected. "I am 45, medium-fair skin toned and worry about discoloration and aging. My skin is on the dry side." That is all they needed to put together my package. In short, they selected the right products typically for my skin and my concerns.

The products selected for me and how and when I am using them:

Morning
Orange Cleansing Soap
This citrus smelling soap is very gentle and nourishing feeling, to start my daytime routine.
Glycolic Acid Toner
This exfoliating toner is great for my dull skin. It gently refreshes my skin after cleansing. My pores are cleansed and seem to disappear after using.
Collagen Moisturizer SPF 15
This is probably my favorite product out of everything I tried. It was like it was made for me, especially in the winter. It is rich enough to hydrate my thirsty skin and give it a buttery soft finish as it moderately protects me from the sun. It absorbs super quick too. I use about the size of a nickel to cover my face, neck and chest.

Evening
Glycolic Foaming Cleanser
This cleanser is great for removing makeup and exfoliating away the day and all the dead skin cells.
Glycolic Acid Toner
Again, this refreshes and balances my skin after cleansing.
Glycolic Eye Cream
This very rich cream hydrates and soothes my eye area for overnight hydration. The addition of glycolic acid means it gently encourages cell turnover to make my eyes look their best.
Buttermilk Moisturizer
This super smooth and rich night cream is amazing. It nourishes my skin and renews it with lactic acid and allantoin, a great anti-inflammatory agent.

2-3 times a week
Almond and Honey Scrub
This is another favorite that I will keep around. This scrub contains real almonds and cornmeal for exfoliation. Even with the larger shells, it is not too harsh or irritating to my skin. It smells divine!
Whitening Mask
This mask has really helped to brighten up and even out my skin tone. I leave it on for about ten minutes and rinse away. Immediately my skin looks better. I have been not so great about using it more then once a week, but I need to as I do see great results.

Along with the package, I received a product application guide, "A regimen specially customized for Teri Cosenzi. I adore the personal touch and personalized advice.  Inside, it told me which products to use in the morning and evening; a chart demonstrating how to apply the products, along with a few personal notes.

Overall, I am very impressed with all of the products. I will definitely be repurchasing the Collagen Moisturizer and Almond and Honey Scrub. I will easily fit them into my daily routine. If I didn't have to test new products on a weekly basis, I would definitely be using them all. Even more impressive is the cost of all the products. Again, the no-nonsense packaging really cuts down on the costs. I mean, I love the look of a heavy frosted glass etched jar, but I know that I am paying for that as much as I am for the little amount of product inside. The amount of product you get for the price from Mario Badescu cannot be beat. The total of all the products in my regimen was just $144! That is less than the price of one of my regular serums. Incredible, right?  And these products would last a good three months.

The only thing lacking in my regimen is a serum, which I am a firm believer in. I use a different serum for day and night and sometimes even layer them. I am thinking that the Vitamin C Serum, Hyaluronic Emulsion with Vitamin C or Corrective Complex Emulsion would be great for me.

You can get your own free personalized skin analysis and product recommendations too. Just head over to mariobadescu.com for it all. The products are also available at retailers such as Ulta and Nordstrom. If you are ever in New York City, I think a visit to the Mario Badescu Spa would be a great treat. The services look very affordable as well. It is on my list of NYC to-do's.