A Fresh Face

When you're good at something you should probably stick with it.  Fresh has found their specialty and its definitely masking, they have captured a huge audience with their collection of face masks for all ages and skin concerns.  While typing this, I'm enjoying their latest Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy Boosting Face Mask.  It holds a huge cocktail of vitamins and fruit extracts containing AHAs to gently exfoliate the skin and leave it brighter and fresher.  Their clinical trials boast everything from refined texture, improved luminosity, and more of a glow with continued use.  I've immediately noticed smoother skin and I definitely have a glow.  Great for a quick fix before going out or as a part of your weekly masking regime.  Fresh Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy Boosting Face Mask $62

I own 4 more of the total 8 Fresh masks, my all time favorite being the Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask.  I've talked about it before and I'll talk about it again, if you have dry skin, you need to treat yourself to this mask.  Yeah its got a hefty price tag ($140) but after one use you'll be hooked.  Containing one of my favorite ingredients Honey, which is a humectant, bringing and sealing moisture into the skin, this mask gives ALL the moisture you could need.  Echinacea improves skin resilience, Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Seabuckhorn Oil provide moisture and omegas, and Vitamin E gives antioxidant protection.  This is my go to mask in dry winter months or after a long week of traveling.  Fresh Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask $140

Always one with clogged pores, I've been loving the Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask lately.  I did it with my best friend a few months ago and woke up in the morning and he was doing it again he liked it so much!  The key ingredient in Fresh's oily skin line is the Umbrian Clay, high in minerals, it works to balance, purify, and clarify the skin.  I like it to help maintain clear pores and spot treat blemishes. Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask $62

The Fresh Rose Face Mask is one I love to use when traveling.  its quick, easy, no mess, and gives a nice refreshing burst of moisture to the skin.  Containing rose water to sooth, aloe and cucumber to calm and cool, and antioxidant rich green tea to brighten and protect.  Great quick fix mask, and can be used every day.  I like to throw it on after the shower while I'm ironing right before bed. Fresh Rose Face Mask $62

Lastly is the Fresh Sugar Face Polish, this was the first Fresh mask I ever tried.  It contains Brown Sugar which is scrubbed in, but it's also a humectant use to seal in moisture, so as it melts into the skin it hydrates.  Wild Strawberry's and Vitamin C are thrown in to brighten the skin and Plum and Grapeseed oil hydrate and nourish.  I rarely leave this one on for the recommended time, but will do it in the shower for a few minutes while I wash and condition my hair.  Fresh Sugar Face Polish $62

One of the things I love most about the Fresh masks is none of them take more than 5-10 minutes, so they're easy to fit into any part of your day for a quick fix with great results.  Which mask are you going to start with?

Audacity

I recently finished my second bottle of the Odacité Wild Carrot serum and first bottle of the Green Tea-Lemongrass.  I'm always skeptical of all natural brands as so many of them have proven ineffective, especially on my Teflon tough-product resistant skin (I mean chemical peels rarely even make me peel).  Odacité (a French play on the word Audacity) was created by a cancer survivor who wanted to cut toxins out of her life but didn't want to sacrifice performance in her skincare.  This is a story I feel I've heard 100 times and have still been let down by the products.  I was so pleasantly surprised when I tried these oils. Within just a few days of use my skin glowing, radiant, and super smooth.  Here's the details

Vital Glow - Wild Carrot Serum Concentrate $55 - Just 2 ingredients, Wild Carrot oil from a small French village and non-GMO Vitamin E.  Wild Carrot is rich in Vitamins A, C, and E, they pack a strong punch to fight wrinkles and smooth out the skin.  Just mix 2-3 drops with your face cream.

Radiant Effect - Green Tea + Lemongrass Serum Concentrate $39 - 3 clean ingredients in here, Green Tea seed oil, non-GMO Vitamin E, and Lemongrass oil.  Green Tea is rich in free radical fighting antioxidants and Lemongrass is detoxifying and uplifting.  These work together to give the skin a beautiful luminosity, I was so surprised how glowy my skin got, I started to ration this oil for special occasions, but really, at $39 it's a steal.

These are the only products I've tried from the line, but methinks I need to invest in a few more! Definitely give them a try to give your current skincare routine a boost!

Summer Nights

In the hot summer months my pores get hella clogged and I have to cut back from using the heavy creams I love to use and switch them out for lighter versions.  One of my favorite products to use during these times is the Decléor Aromessence Ylang Ylang Purifying Night Balm (and under $30 you can't go wrong).  As it's a waxier balm texture, it still lets me have the feeling of putting on something rich all while purifying and detoxing my skin.  It smells like heaven with notes of Ylang Ylang, Clary Sage, Clove, Rosemary, and Lavender.  I wake up in the morning with the most radiant skin - pores minimized, blemishes lessened, and such softness.  If I feel my skin can handle it, I layer my Clarins Multi-Active Night Cream (All Skin Types).  I've been alternating or layer the 2 for about a month now and its been making my skin so much happier during these hot summer months. 

Régime De La Nuit

Often I'm asked what products I'm using, so I'll try to keep you up to date with my latest trials and obsessions.  Here's my current routine in the evening.

1. Clarisonic Mia2 w/ Deep Pore Cleansing Brush $119 - My long time friend and esthetician, Jessica, gifted me this for my birthday this year, how I never had one I have no idea, but it's quiet amazing for cleansing the skin.  My only qualm is that it stops after 1 minute, what if it want to over wash my face for 5 minutes? It's my life, let me live it. 4/5 Stars, everyone needs one, just get the appropriate brush for your skin type.

2. Bellatorra Exfoliating Facial Cleanser $95 - I've been using this for about a month, and I'm really enjoying it.  Bellatorra is a new line sold at Barneys, the lines main benefit is its 48hour time release ingredients, mostly in its leave on products (the facial mist feels like happiness).  This cleanser smells like grapefruit (which I love), it gently exfoliates, cleanses, protects, and reveals a smoother complexion.  All skin types 4/5 Stars.

3. Belif Eucalyptus Herbal Extract Toner $28 - I'm very picky about toners, and I'm on my second bottle of this one.  I like to feel very cleansed without being stripped.  This toner removes any leftover cleanser and sebum, leaving my skin feeling balanced and super fresh.  4.5/5 Stars.

4. SK-II Facial Essence $99-$205 - Thank God I got a sample of this cause I've been out for awhile.  This is THE BEST facial essence you'll ever use.  To sum it up, I first purchased this 10 years ago because my friend Nathan called me up and said "I showed up to work with no sleep after a 3 day bender with only this on my skin and my coworkers asked if I had just gotten off vacation" enough said 5/5 Stars.

5. Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Serum $78-$175 - You can read a little further down (a previous post) my thoughts on this lovely hydrating serum.

6. Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum $58.50-$154 - I just started using this a few days ago, I love the texture, very light, absorbs easily, and blends well with my 10 Step skincare routine.  I'll report back on results.

7. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil $105 - Just started this one a few days ago as well, but I'm kind of obsessed already.  I LOVE facial oils, especially in the cold dry weather.  I'll report back after a few more weeks of use.

8. Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Eye Lifting Balm $62 - You can see my review on this one in a previous post, mostly just finishing this one up so I can try a new one.

9. Amore Pacific Future Response Age Defense Dual Eye Creme $150 - I received these deluxe size samples quiet awhile back and started using it about 2 months ago, there's a cream for the am (with SPF25) and one for pm.  These small samples are never ending, like every other Amore Pacific product I've ever used, it's like they regenerate themselves, making them totally worth their higher price.  These creams have kept my eyes smooth and hydrated.  4/5 Stars, I highly recommend the duo for anyone late 20s+ who are needing some extra loving around the eyes.

10. Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Night Infusion Cream $76 - You can see my review in a previous post, I've been using this since the beginning of October and I'm liking how it's lightweight texture hydrates and layers well with my other steps.

11. A313 Pommade $33.76 - Everyone needs a retinol/vitamin A cream, it's proven, it works, you'll love it.  I use it 5-6 nights a week as the last step in my nightime routine. Check out my previous post for full details

12. Hourglass No28 Lip Treatment Oil $42 - When I first started working for Hourglass, I moved from the humid East Coast to dry ass LA.  Never had my lips felt so dry, ever.  As a lifetime chapstick/lip balm junkie, this is the answer.  It's repaired my dry lips to the point that when I don't have anything on my lips still feel hydrated and smooth.  Apply in the am and before bed at night, it will change your life.  The 24karat gold plated applicator is also quiet the conversation piece to pull out of your pocket, my friends always ask if I have "the gold one" on me as I always have a lip balm in tow.  5/5 Stars, you need this, I can't live without it (and not just cause I work for them, I would buy this if I had to).  Its also available in a very wearable sheer red for the holidays.

13. Iluminage Skin Rejuvenating Eye Mask $35 - This copper infused eye mask claims it can reduce wrinkles in as little as 4 weeks. I'd be lying if I said I noticed a big difference in my skin from it, but I will say that I bought a second one after leaving my first one on a flight to Paris. Why? Because it's so soft and comfortable, it blocks out all light, and I get some of the best sleep I've ever had with it on.  I feel it's satiny smooth fabric prevents sleep lines on my eyes from sleeping on my sides.  As for its wrinkle reducing properties? Every little bit helps and I want the matching pillow case.  4/5 Stars.

14. Dr Jart Water-Max Sleeping Mask $48 - On the 1-2 nights a week I'm not using the A313 I like to use a sleeping mask for a boost in hydration.  I've only used this one a handful of times so far, but I like its lightweight and easily absorbed texture.  It gives some nice hydration, but I'll give my full report after I've used it a bit longer.

15. Elemental Herbology Facial Soufflé Overnight Cream $84 - The lovely girls at Mecca in Sydney Australia bought this for me as a going away gift after I told them how obsessed I was with the texture and smell.  It's one of the thickest creams I've ever felt and has this amazing herbal aroma from all the essential oils.  I use this maybe once or twice a week as my night cream, when my skin is feeling especially dry, like day 2-3 after a chemical peel or during this random super dry LA nights. 4.5/5 Stars

I'd love to hear your thoughts on any other these, have you tried them? Love or hate them? Have any other questions? I'm all ears.

Vitamin Oui

If you haven't heard of the legendary Avibon, you're probably not that big of a skincare fanatic.  If you have heard of, then you probably know it's been taken off the market for "reformulation" (I emailed them, it's never coming back). Fortunately there's a substitute, A313.  I ordered this online when I found out about it and immediately fell in love with it as part of my winter brightening routine. It's a Vitamin A cream (retinol), less potent than Avibon, but similar to our prescription retinol creams.  I noticed smaller pores, smoother skin, diminishing fine lines, and brighten skin within a few uses.  It does cause some initial redness, peeling, dryness, and irritation, as do all retinols with any strength, but those side effects fades after about a week.  I suggest applying this over your night cream for less irritation, that's how I use it every or every other night.  If you're headed to France, bring a picture, every pharmacy I went into had no clue what I was talking about, and I went into every one I walked past. I recommend this to anyone and everyone, like Botox and sunscreen, retinols are something everyone should use to keep their skin looking younger.  4.5/5 Stars available on Amazon around $30

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Some of my favorite skincare products come from the French brand Caudalie, so when I heard they were joining forces with Harvard to bring new advancements from their already potent resveratrol, I said "put it all over my body".   The line contains their signature Vine Resveratrol and combines it with Micro Hyaluronic Acid to boost firmness, elasticity, and help your skin to boost its own Hyaluronic Acid levels.  I started using the entire line October 1st and continued through November 1st, here's what I thought.

Let's see how many products I can hold in one hand

The Firming Serum is the key formula in the 4 product line up.  It's also the product I finished first.  Consumer studies on the serum boast denser skin in 7 days, firmer And lifted skin in 28 days, and smoothed wrinkles in 56 days.  Well, after using it twice a day, I only made it to day 28 before I ran out of product.  I'm typically not heavy handed with my skincare, but the serum is thicker than most and I spread all my skincare down my neck, I found I needed quiet a bit of it.  The dropper style dispenser also leads you to believe you can use a full droppers worth.  Last complaint is that the dropper isn't long enough to get out all the product, so I was q-tipping the rest out to get to 28 days.  Despite it only lasting 28 days, I love the results from this serum, my skin was so plump and hydrated and definitely looked firmer.  Great for all skin types who need a boost in hydration and some help with fine lines.  I would recommend it for late 20s and up.  4/5 Stars $82.

I typically hate having sunscreen in my moisturizer because so many irritate my skin.  The Face Lifting Moisturizer SPF 20 was a nice exception to this.  I do wear 30+ SPF so I would still prefer not to have it added in, but on my days running out the door this is a great option.  Its lightweight fluid texture provided a great deal of hydration without being greasy.  I switched to a different moisturizer after November 1st, but now I'm thinking to switch back, I miss how soft it made my skin! 3.8/5 Stars $66

My favorite time for skincare in evening, mostly because I can layer on as many products as I want.  The Resveratrol Lift Night Infusion was a nice addition.  It has a lightweight whipped creamy texture, almost mouse like.  In Caudalie's studies they found 93% of users noticed smoother wrinkles and 90% noticed their skin was more relaxed in 28 days.  Well this is one of the products I kept using after 11/1.  I've been loving how my skin looks in the morning, so refreshed like I actually slept 8 hours (I usually get 4-6).  As its been getting really dry in LA I've found myself needing to add some more oil or alternating with heavier creams, but I keep going back to it.  It's spreads really far, feels like it will last me a long time. I would recommend this to anyone 30+ with Combo-Dry skin in need of a solid great night cream 4.2/5 Stars $76.

Lastly we have the Eye Balm.  Now I'm a bit of an eye cream snob, I've used nearly every one on the market, so I'm quiet particular.  Caudalie reports that 80% of users noticed less puffiness in 28 days.  I don't get puffy, so I can't really talk to that.  It's very lightweight, I felt that it did help my skin stay hydrated, however I like my eye creams a lot thicker.  I felt like I needed an eye cream on top, so I used an Amore Pacific one on top.  I keep grabbing it every morning and night, so I must not hate it, but I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites.  Would be a great starter eye cream for someone, or apparently anyone with puffiness.  3/5 Stars $62

All in all the Resveratrol Lift line has been enjoyable to use, the textures have been different from the rest of their products, and I've enjoyed that.  I still prefer the Premier Cru Face Cream and Eye Cream but this is definitely a nice more affordable option.

UPDATE

Just finished using the Resveratrol Lift Face Lifting Soft Cream after 3 months of use.  It was what I loved about the SPF Moisturizer, and without the sunscreen that I didn't.  This kept my skin hydrated when it was dry, but wasn't so heavy that I ever felt greasy.  My skin glowed every morning I wore it, and stayed super soft and plump.  It even helped when my red was peeling from too much retinol/peels.  I would 100% use this again, the texture was amazing, and I knew my skin was going to always look smooth.  5/5 Stars 😉 $76

Flashback

100 years ago, I worked for Lancôme.  I was obsessed, the skincare smelled and felt amazing, the textures were unreal, the global "innovations" and "1st time" ingredients had me sold.  Then I learned what a marketing ingredient was, and moved on to other products, until recently.  I was given the Advanced Génifique (fake French word) Youth Activating Serum and threw it towards the back of my product queue, until a slot opened up and I decided to give it a try.  The second ingredient is "Bifida Ferment Lysate",  as fermented ingredients are typically high on the list of Korean Essence products I decided to do a little research.  There are no real studies on the effects of this particular bacteria on the skin, but I will tell you this, I'm on my second bottle.  This concentrate absorbs super quick and feels like an instant boost of moisture.  Lancôme bosts some moderate results across all major skin concerns, targeting it to all skin types and ages, so it truly is an "All Skin Type" product.  It features a dropped that premeasures the perfect amount every time you open it; I used this morning and night and it lasted me over 4 months

I finished my first bottle, moved to another product for the past few months and am happy to say I'm glad there was a second bottle in my queue to use.  At $105 for a 1.69oz bottle it may not be the most affordable extra step in your routine,  I give it 4/5 Stars and recommend it to anyone wanting a boost of hydration, radiance, and improvement in texture.  Use after essence and before or as your serum.