DIB: Radian Skin for Spring, Part 2

Welcome back to BBB for the next part of my spring guide for healthy, glowing skin... on a budget, of course. ;)

If you're wondering what this is about, be sure to check out part 1 on cleansers here, which also explains the inspiration behind this series.

Here's part 2. Enjoy!

Moisturize
The next step, of course, is to keep your skin well-hydrated and moisturized. Drinking plenty of water helps refresh and clear your skin from the inside out, but our skin still needs more help to combat dryness, the sun, and the effects of aging. And because our face shows signs of aging most, we need to put special emphasis on the delicate, exposed skin there! Moisturized skin glows and looks healthy and beautiful, and many companies are releasing products with added brightening benefits - light reflectors, diffusers, etc. Some even include SPF and anti-aging ingredients. If you're looking for beautiful skin, why not try one of these radiance-targeted products?

Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer ($15.99) comes with either SPF 15 or SPF 30 UVA/UVB sun protection and natural ingredients such as soy, known to have moisturizing, smoothing, and tone-evening effects on skin. Great for sensitive skin, it's also oil-free and is clinically proven to even out skin tone and discoloration, smooth texture, and improve radiance in four weeks. These products are a little on the pricier side, but you get more product than with most other brands - 4 oz. with the SPF 15, and 2.5 oz. with the SPF 30. In the long run, it's a good value because they will last you for months. (I personally used one of Aveeno's moisturizers for over half a year.)


If you're looking for a little less moisture and a lot more glow and shimmer, Neutrogena Illuminating Whip Moisturizer ($12.99) is a super-lightweight, oil-free, illuminating moisturizer with SPF 20. It has a large amount of mica for an intense brightening effect! Applying foundation or powder might be recommended if the effect is too powerful for your look and taste.

As part of the Dove Energy Glow line, the Brightening Moisturizer with SPF 15 is another lightweight formula, but with a very subtle shimmer - just the right amount to be noticeable worn alone, but natural-looking. This item is also becoming hard to find, but I picked up one of the last at my local ULTA the other day for about $10. I loved this product because I received some compliments on my glowing skin while using it last year, so I wish it hadn't been discontinued! I guess I'll have to try one of these other moisturizers instead. :) If you find it, though, it's probably a good choice for oily/combo skin or those who live in less dry climates, since it feels very light.


Going back to Olay, their Definity Deep Penetrating Foam Moisturizer has been receiving hundreds of rave reviews - which is good, since the $24.99 price tag is not something to take lightly for us budget beauty babes! This moisturizer is especially good if you have discoloration and sun damage on your face, working to even out tone and brighten while protecting and smoothing. The slightly tacky feel may take a little getting used to, but it could very well be worth it if this moisturizer delivers the glowing results everyone has been talking about! Some also say it works well as a primer for your foundation. It's even being compared to more expensive department store products, some going so far to say that it works better. And there's a lot of scientific evidence to back up the effects of some of its ingredients.

As a side note, though, results aren't always immediate - they are for some, but not everyone - so it may require patience on your part. Olay suggests eight weeks of use to begin seeing results.

Unfortunately, this product does NOT contain an SPF, so it's essential that you apply one (15+) separately over it! However, the Corrective Protecting Lotion with SPF 15 ($22.34, drugstore.com) does work to achieve similar results as the foaming moisturizer while protecting against future damage. It might also be the better alternative of the two, if you're unsure whether the consistency or feel of the foam will bother you or not.The Olay website also suggests that you can layer the two products for ultimate radiance and protection... but that requires both products, which are not cheap - and who knows whether layering the two would actually make a significant difference.

A smart idea would be to obtain some free samples first - such as from Wal-Mart or Target - and check out the products for yourself.

As usual, if you have already tried any of these, have found something else that makes you glow, etc., drop me a line here and let me know! I realize I can't cover every brand or product in one post, but I'm always looking for more good info.

Tomorrow we'll conclude with all the extras - home treatments, eye products, and more.