Don't Waste Your Money

I don't know whether it's due to stress or to the synthetic ingredients in the skincare line that I was previously using, but lately my face has been erupting worse than Mount Vesuvius. I've always been prone to acne, but in the past few months my face has looked worse than it did when I was a teenager. So out of desperation, not wanting to do the Accutane thing (for a third time) and finding over-the-counter remedies barely effective, I shelled out $150 for the latest anti-acne "miracle": the Zeno Acne Clearing Device. This high-tech zit zapper uses a two-minute burst of heat, applied directly to the pimple, to kill bacteria. The manufacturer claims that Zeno can completely eliminate pimples, many within the first 24-48 hours, when this device is used. However, there are limitations as to what the Zeno can do, and unfortunately, you won't learn what those limitations are until you pay the big bucks for the device, open the shrink-wrapped box, and read the user's guide contained within.

I bought my Zeno with a face full of pimples and high hopes that this small device resembling a cigarette lighter would zap them away overnight. Sure, it sounds too good to be true, but the seal on the box proclaiming this product as being an Allure Magazine Editor's Choice for Breakthrough Product convinced me. After all, if Allure Magazine says it works, then why shouldn't I believe them? But when I read the user's guide, I learned that Zeno isn't effective on all kinds of pimples. In fact, it states that it's really only effective on pimples that are just starting - when you notice those small bumps on your face that may or may not turn into a pimple. It wasn't effective on my full-blown pimples, and even when I tried it on spots that I thought were going to become pimples, it didn't eradicate them. In short, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I bought the original Zeno. It used to retail for about $200 and was sold in high-end salons and spas like Bliss Spa, until the manufacturer released the second generation Zeno Pro. Now the original Zeno is $150, and you can buy it at less-than-exclusive major drugstore chains such as Walgreens and Target. Now there is a third-generation Zeno MD. It's just like with iPods: when the first version can be improved upon, introduce another one and reduce the price of the one before it.

I don't know if the newer Zenos are more effective than the original one, but my experience with Zeno has convinced me never to spend a lot of money on something that makes claims that seem too good to be true. Zeno offers a 30-day money back guarantee if not completely satisfied. Needless to say I've already taken advantage of it. If anyone else has used Zeno, I'd love to hear what you have to say about it, positive or negative.

Naturally Beautiful

I've recently decided to do more to take better care of myself, both inside and out. I'm cutting out diet colas and drinking sparkling spring water in an attempt to detoxify my insides and eliminate unhealthy additives. On the outside, I've started using a completely all-natural skincare line called Talulah Natural Skincare. Talulah Natural Skincare products contain no synthetic ingredients, no petrochemicals, no parabens and phthalates, and no animal products. Their face and body care products are truly clean, unlike some companies that claim their products are natural but use "safe synthetics" or preservatives. Talulah's products are completely vegetarian, and many are vegan. And none are tested on animals. Nicole Maust, the founder of Talulah, started creating skincare products out of her home in Portland, Oregon in 2001. Today Talulah Natural Skincare has moved beyond being a successful cottage industry to encompass a staff of people dedicated to enhancing their customers' external health through their natural, holistic products.

My favorite product is the Vanilla Bean Cleanser ($20 for 4 oz.), a melange of organic sugar (a natural source of alpha hydroxy acid), jasmine rice, saponified olive oil soap, Madagascar vanilla beans, and a host of essential oils. It both lathers and gently exfoliates, perfect for complexions that are sensitive to manual and chemical exfoliating products. And it smells great, too.

I am also very fond of the Oma Face Serum #1 ($22 for 1 oz.) for oily and blemished complexions (Talulah makes an Oma Face Serum #2 for drier skin types). It's a blend of essential oils that regulate sebum production while healing inflammation and scarring. For those who believe that you shouldn't put oil on oily skin, this serum consists of a base of grapeseed oil, a light, easily absorbed oil that helps oxygenate the skin cells. It melts into the skin and, once absorbed, skin feels super soft but not greasy or over-moisturized. It's a perfect way for oily girls to moisturize without using lotions or heavy creams that could clog the pores.

After a busy day at work, I like to unwind in the evening by luxuriating in a warm bath. Talulah's Saffron Body Wash ($23 for 8 oz.) in Orange Rind and Geranium is a perfect way to soothe both the body and the mind. It lathers just as well if not better than many synthetic or mass-produced shower gels without stripping the skin. And the warm, soothing fragrance is sexy without being overpowering - the kind of fragrance you could wear while sidling up to that someone special to get his attention without wearing perfume.

In addition to helping people take better care of their faces and bodies, Talulah Natural Skincare is also dedicated to making a difference in the community. Each year Talulah donates 20 percent of their profits after taxes to womens' social services through their Charitable Giving Program. Talulah really is cosmetics with a conscience.

Talulah Natural Skincare is getting ready to unveil their improved website this fall, along with a host of new products. You can visit their current website at www.talulahskincare.com.