I've never had particularly sensitive skin. Acne-prone, yes; sensitive, no. So I've never really given Aveeno more than a passing glance, because it didn't seem like something I needed. I always kind of stereotyped it as being a brand for people who get hives just thinking about fragranced products. Well, I have to admit, everyone's skin can get a little sensitive and particular at times, including mine, and I'm thanking my lucky stars for Aveeno.

This is the second time in my life I've had a bout of eczema. The first time was inexplicably in my armpits, and it eventually went away (TMI, anyone?). It is super annoying to have eczema in your armpits, and to be all scratching your armpits like a monkey. The second time started about six weeks ago, on my left eyelid. This is also a terrible spot for eczema. I thought it was just seasonal allergies irritating my eye until it got bad and itchy and red and scaly looking. Super not cute. I tried Aquaphor and some super mild but hydrating lotions and creams but only had minor improvement. I went to the doctor, who told me it was eczema. Yay. I didn't want to put steroid cream on my eye, so I decided to try Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream. I had a friend in college who had had lifelong eczema and he said this helped a lot, even more than the steroid creams he'd been prescribed. And, most importantly for me, it's safe to use on my face and eyelid (disclaimer: it does warn not to get it IN your eye).

$12.69 for 7.3 oz

• Steroid-free
• Fragrance-free
• Dermatologist approved
• National Eczema Association approved

Eczema on your eyelid is no fun, especially if you like wearing eye makeup. I went without makeup for a few weeks, and have felt super awkward about having my blotchy scaly red eyelid on display. I'm also really bad at not scratching things that are itchy, so my poor eyelid wasn't looking too good. Because I'm impatient and want results IMMEDIATELY, I applied Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream constantly for a few days (the doc said keeping my skin moisturized is key) and my skin feels and looks so much better. Fortunately, Aveeno helped clear it up enough that I could start wearing eye makeup again!  The texture of this product is thinner than I would have expected for an eczema product (regular-light lotion consistency), but it is so good at moisturizing. It has a very faint oatmeal scent to it, it doesn't feel greasy, and it helps soothe my skin quickly (as soon as I even think I'm itchy, I throw some of this stuff on, and it feels better). As I said before, I was an Aveeno-skeptic, but I'm a total convert. I can't stress enough how relieved and happy I am to have my eczema start improving! It's a total life-saver and one of my Holy Grail products. It does seem a little expensive, but in terms of efficacy, speed of healing, and amount of product needed, it's definitely worth it.

Lipgloss+Spandex rating:

Do you have acne? Sucks, huh? I really like this infographic from Beauty Bridge that talks about acne treatments.

Right now, my skin is looking better than it has in a long time (knock on wood!). I've been using:

--Neutrogena Makeup Removing Wipes at night. These take off my long wearing foundation and layers upon layers of mascara with ease!

--E.L.F. Zit Zapper (1% salicylic acid rollerball). It's working just as well as the Relogy Acne Targeted Spot Treatment that I love so much, but for a fraction of the price (it's only $1), and I can buy it at Target! Seriously, this thing is a small miracle.

--Clean & Clear Advantage Oil Absorbing Cream Cleanser. I tested it for We Heart This and was really surprised by how far this brand has come! While it seems like it's leaving a residue, and I do have to use a good amount of product, it gets my skin clean and does a decent job of keeping my acne under control without over-drying.

What are your tried-and-true methods for getting your skin under control?

It's getting warmer, and than means it's time to get your skin fuzz and stubble free! Today, the fabulous Nicole from GirlRatesWorld wanted to share some great shaving tips with us.

5 Shaving Tips for Women with Sensitive Skin
Shaving can be a nuisance when you suffer from sensitive skin. Any number of things can cause a reaction which could haunt your skin for weeks. Here are a five tips to make shaving easier for those with sensitive skin.

1. Shave at night
Shaving at night gives your skin ample time to repair itself. Since you're heading to bed, your skin is not exposed to the things that typically irritate it: sun exposure, wind, friction.  
You should also wear little to no clothes after shaving. Newly shaved skin is very vulnerable. The less contact it has with clothing and other body parts the better.
Shaving at night and wearing little clothing gives your skin the opportunity to breath and recuperate on its own terms. The results will be less irritation and faster healing times.

2. Exfoliate first
Exfoliating is the removal of dead skin cells. Taking time to remove any dead skin cells before shaving will "level the playing field." Exfoliated skin is smoother which in turn will provide an ultra smooth surface for shaving. 
Let's imagine shaving a crocodile. No amount of shaving cream or any other lubricant will make a difference. The razor would struggle and the skin will become irritable. Now, picture shaving a latex balloon. It is the perfect canvas for the razor - smooth and rigid less. This is a good way to visualize the importance of exfoliating your skin before shaving.

3. Always use a lubricant
Lubrication and shaving goes hand-in-hand. You need something to help ease the razor along. Shaving creams, conditioners, and even oils are great lubricants to use during shaving. The key is to apply it liberally over wet skin that has been exfoliated. 
Lubricants create a barrier between your skin and the razor. They also help reduce friction as you shave giving you a closer shave and protecting you from unnecessary nicks.
Shave each area once. Shaving the same area over and over again will basically torture your skin. If you exfoliate first and use a good lubricant, you should not need to repeat. If lingering hairs become an issue, opt to tweeze them out until your next shaving session.

4. Always use a clean or new razor 
Personally, I prefer disposable shavers. They ensure a clean, sharp blade each time you shave. 
Older razors become dull. They are also plagued with dead skin and lubricant from prior uses. Eventually they can no longer give us the close shave we desire. As a result, you're tempted to repeat the same area. The result can be more irritation, nicks and razor bumps.

5. Shave in the direction of hair growth
Always shave hair in the direction it grows. For example, the hair on your legs may grow downward. So you should run your razor in a downward motion. The same applies for when hair grows upward or even sideways.
There are times when your hair is growing in multiple directions in a certain area. In this case, just take a little extra time to examine the area so you know when to change the razor's direction.  

For more beauty tips and tutorials like this, visit GirlRatesWorld.com.

I get really nervous about changing my skincare routine. I've had acne my entire life and remember the hope I felt when I was about to try a new product... and then the extreme disappointment after yet another product didn't improve my skin at all. It seems like I've tried hundreds of acne products (drugstore, department store, prescription--I've probably tried it) but only one thing eliminated my acne (Accutane) and that was only for about a year. Since then, my acne has returned, although it hasn't been as bad. 

So I've started the whole trial and error process of trying acne products all over again. It's generally a pretty crappy time. Except when you're given some products that actually WORK--like Coral Actives' line of acne products! Although I was initially hesitant to try out a brand of skincare that I hadn't heard of before, I'm now a huge fan.

I don't give enough love to skincare products. I just kind of expect them to do their job, and help my skin stay outta trouble. There have been a lot of skincare products that haven't worked for me, and the few that have worked are way underappreciated. But today I want to tell you about a skincare product I love so much that I use it year round, and have even repurchased it a few times: MAC Oil Control Lotion!

$15.00 for 30mL/1.0 fl oz.
$30.00 for 50ml/1.7 fl oz.

My skin can be very oily, but it can occasionally be a little dry and sensitive from the baking soda I use with my facial cleanser. Instead of trying to find a product that can work with varying conditions from day to day, I just avoided face moisturizer all together. I had never found one that I liked--most of them felt oily and heavy and made my foundation melt off. But MAC Oil Control Lotion is some sort of magical potion that just makes my skin perfectly moisturized without being oily. It's a thin, light feeling lotion that applies easily and smoothly to skin with your finger tips. The convenient locking pump applicator dispenses a pea-sized amount--I use 2-3 pumps to cover my entire face. It keeps my skin perfectly hydrated but not oily all day long. And one bottle lasts me months, since a dab will do ya! 

If you're like me--acne prone with oily skin--and you think you don't need lotion for your face, this one just might change your mind!

Lipgloss+Spandex rating:

TotalBeauty offered to send me their TotalBeauty Collection for HSN to review before it was even available for purchase, so of course I giddily accepted. (I totally felt like one of the cool kids on the block...)

I love exfoliating scrubs, but even a big tub of it doesn't seem to last long for me, so it gets a little spendy. I contemplated making a DIY scrub but was worried the oil would make the tub too slippery and that the scrub would clog the drain. So when I was at Ulta looking for an inexpensive alternative product, and I found these $3 loofah pads, I was pretty excited. 

Earth Theraputics Loofah Bath Pad
$3.34 on Amazon.com (I found mine at Ulta, and I've seen similar items at my local grocery store in the Beauty/Cosmetics dept.)

This loofah is my new favorite shower item! I get pretty bad red bumps after shaving, and my skin can look a little dull, especially on my legs. I knew exfoliating would probably help, but just hadn't found the right product until now. This loofah pad is cheap and long-lasting, and it works wonders on my body! Rub soap on it and then rub wherever you need some exfoliation. Apply more or less pressure, or scrub for more or less time--it's simple but effective. And it really has helped with my shaving bumps. I like that when it gets icky or worn out I can just toss it (the idea of a wet loofah growing germs and getting gross in the shower kind of skeeved out out initially, but it seems to be doing just fine after a month or so in the shower). There are fancier options out there but this one works just fine. I love this product so much that I might even give them as Christmas gifts (with a little handmade soap included with it!). My only complaint is that it isn't as exfoliating now after a month of using it every day, so I threw it away. They're supposed to last a few months, using it a couple of times a week, but I was using mine daily. And it probably would have still been scratchy enough for some people, but it's only $3 for a fresh one. I'm definitely going to keep repurchasing these.

Lipgloss+Spandex rating:

Utatz 
$20 for one value pack (5 preselected themed tattoos + 1 utatz.com tattoo + six alcohol prep wipes + application instructions) 
Buy individually for $15 per spray can and $2.00 per tattoo (9.5cm by 5.5 cm)  

These are like an at-home version of the airbrush tattoos you see at fairs or carnivals. The tattoos are small and there are tons of designs, but the stars were my favorite. I was a little underwhelmed with some of their other tattoo designs--but there's something for everyone. They're very easy to use and not terribly messy. I can see these being great for kids (birthday parties!) or for adults (Halloween, fraternity and sorority parties, etc) or even just for fun. Doing several layers of color creates a more long lasting tattoo. It will survive the shower, even with a light soaping and some scrubbing. Spray on sunscreen slowly breaks it down, as I found out one day whole wakeboarding. The price seems a little high for a temporary tattoo, but these are fancier than your standard water tattoo from the Cracker Jack box, and one spray can lasts a long time. The stencils really can be reused many times too. While these aren't something I'd use in my day-to-day life, they're definitely fun, safe, and easy to do. I'd love to see them come out with more colors and stencils.

As 2010 comes to a close, I'd like to share a few of my favorite beauty products.