Get your wallets out! It's the Best of 2012 from yours truly!

2012 has been an exciting year for beauty. I got to try many different products I love and some I didn't care much for. This is a collection of some of my favorite products of 2012. I couldn't list everything I liked, so this is a solid list of everything I use and will continue to buy! 

Some honorable mentions that I would love to point out that didn't make the list or I didn't have a category for are: Skinfood's Rice Washoff Mask, Fresh's Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask, Natura Bisse's The Cure Serum, and Kate Somerville's ExfoliKate.  If you do a search on my blog, I've written a review on all the honorable mentions in the past. :) 

Happy and goodbye 2012!

May 2013 be even more exciting for beauty! Thank you all for being here with me. It's been great to share my thoughts with you all! 

Noted: Prices might change. The price listed is reflected at the time of the blog post.  

Favorite Toner

SKII Facial Treatment Essence $195

This not only acts as a hydrating toner, it is also a treatment for the overall face. It will brighten your entire complexion and lighten any spots or acne scars. I call it the holy water for the face!

Favorite Day Cream

La Mer Moisturizing Lotion $230

It’s hydrating even for the most sensitive skin. My skin tends to react to a lot of products and whenever I get a reaction, I always put this on to calm my skin. I actually have this and also the Oil-Absorbing Lotion (also $230) to switch back and forth depending on the weather. The Oil-Absorbing Lotion is the only lotion that has been able to prevent my nose from being oily. The Moisturizing Lotion is great to use all year long. Stop doing your research on La Mer and just buy it!

Favorite Night Cream

Givenchy Le Soin Noir $380

Why it’s the best? It’s a black facial cream! You will not find another cream like this on the market (actually, it’s kind of hard to find this in the US). It is extremely hydrating and it plumps and firms the skin. Everytime I stay on this for a few days, people start commenting on my skin asking what I use. It’s on the pricey side, so I only use this at night and also although it goes on clear, some people have said it does leave a greyish film on their face. The texture is almost like gelatin or pudding. It’s a great anti-aging product that is worth investing.

Favorite Serum

La Mer Regenerating Serum $260

I’ve noticed a lot of people don’t know what a serum does and often times they skip buying a serum. From my experience, a serum is a very important part of skin care. It is a treatment that targets your skin concerns, such as fine lines, wrinkles, or sun spots. It is not a moisturizer, however, I know some people use a hydrating serum and skip a moisturizer altogether.

A serum goes on before your moisturizer and after your toner.

You can almost see the difference in your skin in one day while on this serum. The overall texture of the face is more even and smooth. It encourages collagen production to fill in wrinkles and lines and gets rid of acne scars and imperfections. I tend to breakout at times and this serum has been great at preventing break outs. This is one product I always ask people to buy and everyone loves it. 

Favorite Eye Treatment

La Prairie Illuminating White Caviar Eye Serum

It is very hard to find an eye cream that works. I've tried many big brands and I am always hesitant to recommend an eye cream to anyone, because everyone's skin is different and often times eye treatments don't always work for everyone. However, I have been dealing with dark circles and this has been the only eye treatment that I saw a noticeable different. I do recommend it for people that have dark circles. It is expensive so get a sample first.   

Most Luxurious

Givenchy Le Soin Noir Lace Mask

Why it’s the most luxurious? Need I say more? Just LOOK AT IT!

Favorite New Product

Yves Saint Laurent Forever Youth Liberator Serum $150 or $200 for the larger size.

I haven’t used this long. I got a sample of it when they launched it and I remember loving how my skin feels and look when I used it. It smells amazing as well. I'm sure they will expand on the line next year! I also really like the unique design of all the bottles. I wasn't sure I like it at first, but they all look very stylish.

Favorite New Line

Guerlain Abeille Royale

The power of royal jelly and honey! I love this new line. It’s a great anti-aging line that is not too harsh or active. I wish they would come out with a body cream that has the scent of this line. My favorite thing from the line is the toner! it's absolutely fantastic! 

Best Brand Design

Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford always goes above and beyond with its branding and marketing. His beauty line is no exception.

Yves Saint Laurent YSL Top Secrets Flash Radiance Skincare Brush

From their site: 

This high-performance formula contains energizing active ingredients that boosts radiance and leave behind a fresh and healthy complexion. With a single brush stroke, signs of fatigue fade away and the texture of the skin is refined.

Key ingredients:

• Grain of Paradise extracts and caffeine erase signs of fatigue; light-reflecting micro-pigments capture and diffuse light reducing skin imperfections.
• A seaweed derived sugar forms a veil that maintains moisture on the surface of the skin and protects it against external threats.
• Wheat proteins combined with sugar extracted from oats and a silcon elastomer allow for the formula to quickly smooth fine lines, leaving it feeling soft and velvety.

My Take:

I love this product for many reasons. It makes your face look even, fresh, and shine free. I know it's not designed as a shine minimizer, but it works great for that! I have oily combination skin and this prevents my skin from looking greasy throughout the day. It creates a soft focus to your face like you have professional lighting on you.... maybe that's why they call it Top Secrets?

I think most women use it as a primer before they put on their makeup, but for those that just want to have a fresh looking face, this works perfectly well on its own to create that look. It gives you the look of having Makeup Forever HD Powder on without the white residue.

It doesn't have any color in it. It goes on white and turns translucent. 

The only down side to the product is the cleanliness of the brush itself. You can't really wash it, so I kind of just brush it on the paper towel to clean it.  

Verdict: Get it! 

Top Secrets Flash Radiance Skincare Brush is $55

Read more on their site: http://www.yslbeautyus.com/Top-Secrets-Flash-Radiance-Skincare-Brush/371YSL,default,pd.html 

 

 

Guerlain Orchidee White Age Defying and Brightening Serum

Merry Christmas everyone!!

I just splurged and bought this for myself for Christmas!!! I've been wanting to try this for the longest time. I can't wait to tell you guys how it is! Check back to this post for when I update it with the review!


Guerlain reveals the White Orchid extract, a unique and double-patented Guerlain technology, which is capable of offering global action on the skin's luminosity and various pigmentation phases.

• The face contours seem re-sculpted, the skin texture is refined and wrinkles and fine lines are softened.
• The complexion is gradually evened out, dark spots are lightened and imperfections are erased.
• The smoothness of the skin texture is improved for better receptivity of the light.
• Contrasts are balanced to correct dullness.
• The skin glows with unique luminosity that seems to shine from deep within the epidermis.
• The face is adorned with fresh, even, spectacular and dazzling radiance.

Guerlain 'Orchidée Impériale White' Serum is $460

Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream With Super 7 Complex Review

From Sephora's site:
Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream is a lightweight, daily age-defying moisturizer for all skin types proven to minimize and prevent signs of aging, deliver intense hydration, and improve elasticity. It is formulated with Fresh’s proprietary Super 7 Complex—an age-defying, hydrating, and radiance-boosting blend of seven super-charged ingredients to defend against wrinkles, preserve collagen, promote the production of hyaluronic acid, seal in moisture, and soften the skin.

My take:

I was randomly shopping at Sephora for some Christmas presents and I saw this new cream from Fresh, and of course I had to get it! I love all of Fresh's products, especially the Black Tea line and the Rose Petal Mask, so it was a no brainer that I had to give this product a try.

I think it is a great anti-aging starter cream for those that are not ready to commit to spending over $100 yet. I feel like this is more of a light weight hydrating cream than a rich anti-aging cream.  I love the texture. It feels very rich and thick, but it actually goes on light and smooth.

To put in the overall rank of Fresh Anti-aging products, it'll rank somewhat like this for me -

1. Creme Ancienne
2. Black Tea Age Delay Cream
3. Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream
4. Soy Face Cream
5. Umbrian Clay Face lotion 

Fresh always put out quality products and for $42, it's very reasonably priced. 

I'm not sure if this is a Sephora exclusive, i think it is, since I couldn't find it on Fresh's official website. It's strange that Fresh kept putting out exclusive products only at Sephora, but then again Sephora and Fresh are both under the LVMH family.

Verdict: Try it!
Read more at Sephora-  
http://www.sephora.com/lotus-youth-preserve-face-cream-with-super-7-complex-P377123?skuId=1488352 
Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream is $42

UPDATE! - I went by the Fresh store today and they do carry it in their store. I think Sephora was just a soft launch. 

  

Natura Bisse Inhibit-Dermafill $425.00

The description from their site- 

Say good-bye to needles—an antiaging alternative to all micro-injections like Botox and Restylane.

• An alternative to more invasive procedures.
• Relaxes muscle contractions and keeps expression lines from re-forming with a double dose of Octamioxyl™ at a 40% concentration.
• With Dermafill complex at 10% concentration, fills in and smoothes out wrinkles through a layering process that works from deepest to the most superficial layers of skin.
• One ounce.

About Natura Bisse:
In 1979, Natura Bisse founder Ricardo Fisas, along with wife Maria Gloria Verg?s, developed a skin-care line featuring natural free-form amino acids. Ever since its inception, Natura Biss? has been recognized for its innovative, luxurious treatments.

My Take:

So....is it true a treatment cream can perform as well as injections? Not really, but this is a pretty good product. It comes costly, but for those that are trying to stay away from injections, this is a great alternative. However, you have to use it EVERYDAY and stay on top of it to really see the results. It does fill in all the lines and smooth out the wrinkles, but if you already have very deep lines, this might not be able to do much for you. It can definitely prevent your skin from forming more lines. 

I do like most of Natura Bisse's products. They are a good brand to explore if you're not into La Mer or La Prairie. 

Read more on their site: 

http://www.naturabisse.es/en/product/inhibit-collection/product/inhibit-dermafill/

Natura Bisse Inhibit-Dermafill is $425

Verdict: Get it!

Blue Plasma Perricone MD

A non-acidic daily peel for brightness and glow. With Salmon Roe Enzyme and Copper. This cutting edge liquid treatment works with Bio-specific Peeling to attack only dead skin cells, Micro-extraction to lift surface debris, unclogging and purifying the skin of build-up and finally Hydro-fusion to rebalance skin's hydration with enriched water. No rinsing needed.

Anyone tried it? I know Perricone's products are all very good and the Cold Plasma line is doing really well. I would love to hear from anyone that have tried this product! Let me know here or on Facebook! - www.facebook.com/themetroperspective

Read more on their site- http://www.perriconemd.com/product/blue+plasma.do 
$95

Go see Les Miserables when it's out!

Not related to beauty, but I had the pleasure of attending the second world premiere of Les Miserables with the cast and crew last week and the movie was absolutely stunning in every way. It's great film making that will be getting plenty of Oscar Noms!

Go see it when it opens Christmas Day.

Nude Perfect Cleansing Oil Review

An omega-rich oil cleanser for the face and eye that effortlessly cleanses skin and dissolves makeup.

What it is formulated to do:
Packed with omega 3 and 6, this cleanser deeply cleans, eliminating all impurities and even the toughest waterproof makeup, without stripping the skin. It leaves the skin feeling comfortably clean, soft, and supple.

There aren't that many "good" cleansers out there that have made me want to write a review on, but this is one of them that I would always recommend to people that are looking for a cleanser that is gentle and yet cleans without stripping the skin.

Most of the cleansers out there tend to strip the skin of its natural oil or just simply don't clean the skin that well. I have combination skin and I tend to break out here and there at times and this cleanser has always kept my skin acne free.

If you're looking for a cleanser above the over the counter brands, this is def a good one to look into without breaking the bank.

Verdict: Buy it!
Nude Perfect Cleansing Oil is $36
http://www.nudeskincare.com/shop/cleansers/perfect-cleansing-oil/

Update!!! - This has been changed to All In One Perfect Cleansing Oil and Makeup Remover and it is a lot more oilier. Don't think I like it anymore!

La Mer The Body Refiner Review

A body scrub infused with 1.75 carats of pure diamond powder? I'm in! This is my new favorite body scrub/exfoliate!

Infused with 1.75 carats of pure diamond powder, La Mer The Body Refiner polishes the skin and lifts away dull skin cells, gently retexturizing the skin. This spa-like treatment is embedded within La Mer’s legendary emollients to cushion the skin while protecting its delicate moisture barrier. Fermented acidic sea muds detoxify and purify the skin for a bright, healthy appearance. A low pH level makes them particularly gentle, ideal for sensitive skin. Tourmaline and sea quartz stimulate circulation and awaken the skin. Hyraluronic Acid and a micro-algae complex attract and capture moisture to soften and refresh the skin.

The refiner is very fine and smells clean. I've tried a lot of different scrubs and this one always makes my skin extra soft  and my body oil/lotion going on much smoother and sinks in much quicker.

Skin looks radiant with a light shimmer and sheen. It's not the kind of cheap distracting shimmer, it literally looks like you have crushed diamond powder on your skin when you're under the light/sun. Very subtle, so from far away, you'll just look like your skin is glowing!

I highly recommend it, but because of the price, I would say don't use it every day. I think once or twice a week is enough.

Verdict: Buy it! 
La Mer The Body Refiner is $110
http://www.cremedelamer.com/product/CAT5819/PROD12446/The+Body+Refiner

 

Karl Lagerfeld Shu Uemura Holiday 2012 Makeup Collection

“I wanted to invent my personal vision of a Japanese manga.”-KL

What do you think of Karl Lagerfeld's Japanese Manga inspired 2012 Makeup Collection for Shu Uemura? Even the cleansing oils are repackaged in the same manga motif.

Uguisu No Fun, Nightingale Dropping Bird Poop Powder!

You are looking at my beauty secret--- Uguisu No Fun, which is Nightingale Droppings/Bird poop powder!!! It is the same one they use for that $180- $200 Geisha Facial in NY.

It is freeze-dried Nightingale poo that's been treated with UV light to get rid of any bacteria. It has a light scent to it, but it does not smell like poop, it smells kind of like mud. Most of the time i can't even smell it. I use this in many ways. I blend it with my face wash at night and it has been great in preventing breakouts and treating break outs on my skin. It lightly exfoliates your skin to get rid of dead skin cells. 

Once a week, I mix this along with a rice bran face mask/scrub and use it as a wash off mask. My skin feels extremely smooth and bright after the treatment. I then follow the wash off mask with a hydrating sheet mask. It's a great at-home treatment I've been doing that makes a big difference in the overall texture of my face. 

You can find this product online, there's a seller I always buy from on Ebay and she has been selling it before it got into the mainstream. Just do a search on Ebay and you'll find it! It's usually $20.

Japanese Traditional Beauty Secret ultra violet light treated Nightingale droppings / Uguisu No Fun are completely free of bacteria. They have been used for Kabuki actor & Geisha's make-up cleansing for centuries in Japan and contain a natural enzyme (guanine, an amino acid w/ anmonic bleaching qualities) which has a natural lightening action. NATURAL ENZYME POWER of NIGHTINGALE DROPPINGS helps to remove all traces of dirt and gently exfoliates dead skin cells. Leaves skin soft, smooth and brighter.

Sephora Fresh exclusive Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil

Sephora has an exclusive Fresh product called Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil for $50. Just FYI, you can get 100% Certified Organic Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil for much cheaper and it won't be a blend of a bunch of other oils.

The Seaberry oil is actually a blend- 

Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Fragrance, Bht, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Coumarin, Geraniol.

UPDATE! - They are now carrying this in all the Fresh stores.

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Skinfood Rice Mask Wash off Review

 

A wash-off mask containing rice extract that moisturizes skin and brightens tone. With its texture of ground rice, it leaves skin bright, soft and lustrous.

I've been testing out a few products from SkinFood and so far I like most of their products. I've tried the entire Gold Caviar Line and my favorite from the line is the Gold Caviar Toner where you can see the gold flakes floating in the toner. My review of that can be read here.

The Rice Wash Off Mask is a great product I would definitely continue to buy and it's decently priced at $12. It's a big size tube that can last for a long time.

The texture is like rice pudding with grits of soft rice. It's great for anyone that is interested in an exfoliating scrub without the harshness of abrasive beads. My feel feels clean, smooth, and lightly exfoliated after using this mask. What I like most about this mask is the versatility of it. Because of its texture, it makes a great base to mix your own concoction of a mask. I've added different things to the mask to make it my own depending on my need.

This makes a great base for the famous (or infamous) Geisha Facial made famous by Shizuka New York Day Spa, which is basically a blend of rice bran powder and Nightingale Droppings/bird poop powder. They finish the facial with a bunch of other treatments and add-ons that you'll typically get if go to a spa, but the base is the mixture of bird poop and rice bran powder.

I've tried mixing it a few different ways and so far, this has been the best base for mixing the bird poop facial. Of course, it is perfectly fine on its own as a wash off mask.

Overall, this is a mask and also an exfoliating scrub I highly recommend and it is priced so well that everyone should just buy it to give it a try.

I've noticed SkinFood makes great scrubs, toners, scrubs, and mask.....better than their facial creams. Though their body lotions are awesome.

Verdict: Buy it!
Read more on their site- http://eng.theskinfood.com/products/product.asp?prdNo=63 -- The site is very lacking of info. 

Comment Below or join the conversation on Facebook, where I'm pretty active! www.facebook.com/themetroperspective

Take my money now-- Givenchy Le Soin Noir Lace Mask $326

Givenchy Le Soin Noir Lace Mask

Unique tailoring delicate Calais lace material

Calais lace top global luxury fashion brand favorite lace, including Givenchy haute couture lace, French lace are all from the Calais! This combination of beauty makeup fashion, incredible initiative, Le Soin Noir Classic lace mask the first noble Calais lace as a mask material, tailored to the unique Earhook type version, can multiply the mask tight skin Lahti effect; Lahti coated full face lace weave mask more subtle elastic obedient face; the fine bud Mesh grid, you can multiply set out the maximum amount of skin care nutrients, bring skin luxury exquisite new maintenance experience.

A 18ml Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate extremely luxurious

Givenchy use of high-tech, noble Calais lace and precious Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate perfect into one. Each piece Le Soin Noir Classic lace mask multiply contained the full 18ml Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate, equal to more than half a bottle of Essence! When plenty of Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate essence infiltrates every inch of lace, lace mask contact with the skin instantly comfortable not only feel Qinliang skin gradually become extraordinarily soft and compact, so that women in this extremely luxurious lace ear hook pull mention mask nourishes immediately reproduce young, restore firmness radiance for the the skin recover coveted youth stretch.

Use lace Essence instant combination …
Le Soin Noir Classic lace mask like a black jewelry box packaging, there are four groups of hidden lace mask compact design. Use, first press the rich Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate Essence end, its full flow to the other end of the lace mask grid, the lace mask the infiltration completely contained Essence, you can remove, expand light Fuyu face, hanging in the ear fixed, to enjoy top skincare time like to wear a black lace veil, luxury preposterous …

Le Soin Noir classic lace mask design is to make the skin each time have encountered the the enjoy the freshest active essence, and deposited with the extremely elegant and stylish, not generally Patch Mask ticking troubled, women both at home and on the plane, attaining salon, are especially able to demonstrate taste, beautiful again.

Recommend regular weekly deposited with a Le Soin Noir classic lace mask, 20 minutes to remove the pulp nudge massage to help the skin to more fully absorb the Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate enjoy this black Calais lace very extravagance care.

http://zzhi.blog.com/2012/09/20/givenchy-le-soin-noir-new-products-listing/

Currently not avail in the stats, but you can order from
http://www.harrods.com/product/le-soin-noir-lace-mask/givenchy/000000000002968235

Anyone know how to get a hold of this without paying for international shipping? Contact me Givenchy reps!

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum Review - It's like having Thanksgiving on your face

From their site:

C E Ferulic® is a revolutionary antioxidant combination that delivers advanced protection against photoaging by neutralizing free radicals, boosting collagen synthesis, and providing unmatched antioxidant protection. More protection means more youthful looking skin and better defense against environmental aging.

• Provides advanced environmental protection against UVA, UVB and infrared radiation A
• Stimulates collagen synthesis to improve signs of aging
• Increases firmness and replenishes lipids to reduce wrinkles
• Once absorbed, this serum can’t be washed or rubbed off. It remains effective for a minimum of 72 hours, making it an excellent addition to sunscreen.

Ever wonder what it'll feel like to have a slab of turkey on your face? It might smell and feel like C E Ferulic. I wanted to like this serum after all the rave reviews and people I know in the beauty industry swear by it. I finally gave in, put my La Mer aside, and tried it for a week. I absolutely hate it. I wanted to stay on it longer so I can write a really in-depth review, but my skin started breaking out and my face was greasy all the time, I just couldn't stay on it anymore.

This is one of those products that looks so good on paper, but fails to deliver, at least for me. I know a lot of people that really like it, so maybe it just didn't sit well with my skin. If you have combination/oily skin, you might not want to use this, because it is very oily and my face was shiny the entire time when I was on this. And because it is so oily, my skin started breaking out where I normally wouldn't break out.

I thought it would improve as time goes on, but my skin started looking worse each day to a point that I just had to stop using it. The worse thing about this product is that it smells like turkey! I thought I got a bad bottle, so I went back to check on another bottle and did some research online and apparently, it just smells bad. I felt like I was rubbing a Turkey dinner grease all over my face when I put this on and the smells lingers on your face throughout the entire day. I also have severe allergies so the smell was not helping either.

Honestly, I am sure the product works well with some people, but I just can't get over the smell and the greasiness of it all. I also did not see anything positive other than my pores being enlarged and pimples started appearing.

Verdict: Skip it!
C E Ferulic is $146
http://www.skinceuticals.com/_us/_en/category/c-e-ferulic.htm

 

Lumene quick review

Not going to go into a full in depth of this line. I tried the following

Vitamin C + Age Defying Radiant Beauty Drops: Arctic cloudberry seed oil strengthens and protects the skin from external and internal stress factors. Arctic lingonberry seed oil protects and nourishes skin. Vitamin C together with lingonberry seed oil provides long-lasting protection and brightens

Vitamin C+ Pure Radiance Day Cream: Natural radiance & detox for brighter skin Rich and soft cream gives your skin instant radiance, moisture and energy. Arctic cloudberry seed oil, which is bursting with natural antioxidants, fortifies the skin and protects it from both external and internal stress factors. 

Vitamin C+ Pure Radiance Day Cream SPF 15: Natural radiance & detox for brighter skin! Fresh cream gives your skin radiance while protecting it against the harmful effects of the sun. Optimal UVA protection. 

Sensitive Touch Cleansing Wipes: Gentle formula contains 100% organic soothing arctic linen seed extract to calm the skin. Sensitive formula doesn't leave a greasy residue and doesn't sting on your eyes. Leaves your skin pleasantly fresh.

 

The day cream with no SPF I liked. Not a fan of any cream with SPF because of their consistency and anything SPF 30 and under is useless in my opinion. 

 I did not like the Beauty Drops. It felt very strange on the skin. It has a a dry oil feel to it and my lotion did not go well on top of the drops. It makes my face look kind of weird too, almost has a strange sheen to the skin. Not a fan. 

There you go. If you've tried the products, let me know how you like it in the comment section, or join the conversation on Facebook! www.facebook.com/themetroperspective

 

 

C E Ferulic from SkinCeuticals

So apparently SkinCeuticals' C E Ferulic is the hottest thing in the skincare world at the moment. I have no idea why it became so popular out of nowhere when the brand has been around forever.

I just got this and I will give it a try and see how I like it. Keep checking back for reviews!

Update!! Review here: http://metroperspective.blogspot.com/2012/10/c-e-ferulic-serum-review-its-like.html

The Making Of Crème De La Mer

People always ask me what makes La Mer special and that they don't actually have a special process on making of the cream. Well, here is the article to show you all how it's made! The article was originally published by Refinery29, the link to their website is at the end. 

Photographed by Jer Crowle/Courtesy of La Mer

 Photographed by Jer Crowle/Courtesy of La Mer
The area in British Columbia where this kelp comes from — off the coast of Vancouver Island — is very remote, accessible only by air or sea.

Photographed by Jer Crowle/Courtesy of La Mer

Andy Bevacqua, chief scientist for La Mer's Max Huber Research labs, is the man responsible for unlocking the great scientists' notes for recreating the top-secret formula. Huber, who created the Creme almost a half a century ago as a remedy for his severely burned skin, left the formula to his children when he died, but none of them were able to precisely replicate the process.

Bevacqua, a scientist for Estée Lauder, which purchased the brand back in 1995, set to work deciphering the code. It took him years, but he finally mastered the tricky process, which involves combining sea kelp, vitamins and minerals, citrus oil, eucalyptus, wheat germ, alfalfa, and sunflower in a biofermentation process.

Simple enough, right? Not so much: Huber also would blast his so-called Miracle Broth with sound waves, a branch of science called sonochemistry, in which certain wavelengths of sound can actually affect or even cause chemical reactions. This integral step was the magic key that made everything click together to create the Miracle Broth.

Photographed by Jer Crowle/Courtesy of La Mer

This is what $8,000 of Miracle Broth looks like.

Photographed by Jer Crowle/Courtesy of La Mer

 The land is owned by Canada's First Nations People, who harvest and then sell the kelp to the company. The kelp grows on long stems that reach to the ocean floor. The two-man team takes their boat out and hand cuts the kelp off, leaving the stalks intact so that they stay alive and can continue to produce more kelp leaves.

While it would be easier and more cost-efficient to just drag up the kelp stalks and remove the leaves that way, this would cause the kelp not to grow back and basically destroy an entire eco-system — myriad sea creature depend on this plant for survival.

This eco-friendly method of hand-harvesting, along with the complex biofermentation process, and the hand-packaging of the product, are just a few of the reasons Creme de La Mer carries that hefty price tag.

Photographed by Jer Crowle/Courtesy of La Mer

 

So what's so special about this seaweed? According to Bevacqua, you need to think of your skin like a battery: It has positively- and negatively-charged ions, which get depleted over time. The negative ions gravitate toward the surface, while the positive ones remain deeper in the skin. The movement of these ions creates a type of electrical energy, which the skin needs to perform its daily reparative and protective functions.

As we age, get stressed out, or damage our skin, the ions lose their charge and the energy becomes stagnant, meaning our skin can't optimally function. The kelp-based Miracle Broth acts as a charging station, re-establishing the correct circuits so that these positive and negative ions continue to flow where they are meant to, helping the skin to better perform its duties of hydrating and healing.

The kelp we got the chance to handle had been harvested a few days earlier and as such, the nutrients had started to leach out, creating a slimy residue that Bevacqua lovingly referred to as kelp snot. Our senior beauty editor daringly rubbed a bit of this slick stuff on the back of her hands and immediately noticed a difference in her skin. The residue sunk into the skin on the back of her hand instantly and made it look brighter and feel baby-soft to the touch. She tried to convince Bevacqua to let her have a few stalks to wrap herself up in, mummy-style, but he sadly quashed her DIY spa dreams, on the spot.

Article was taken from http://www.refinery29.com/la-mer written by Megan McIntyre

30th anniversary of Clé de Peau Beauté's iconic hero product, La Creme

Catch them all like Pokeballs! For $2250, you can buy the same cle de peau la creme in 3 different color jars!!! Trust is Blue, Radiance is Yellow, Excitement is Pink. Seriously, who is going to buy into this marketing push for $750 each??

But in case you're interested, you can get it at Saks and Neiman Marcus. 

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Clé de Peau Beauté's iconic hero product, La Creme, with limited edition in three colors. Inspired by the radiance of rare colored diamonds to express Clé de Peau Beauté's "Radiance of Joy."

Natura Bisse Diamond White

Been trying out Natura Bisse's Diamond White Serum... so far not a fan, it smells like melted silicone, but will test it out till i can write a full review. 

Keep checking back! 

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Complete La Mer Serum Rundown Review- Regenerating, Radiant, and Intensifier

The Regenerating Serum: 
Fortified with a high concentration of The Miracle Broth™, The Regenerating Ferment™ and The Marine Peptide Ferment, this active yet comforting skincare powerhouse helps complement skin's natural production of “youth proteins,” collagen and elastin. You will see a difference in a day as skin is rejuvenated on contact. Over time, the appearance of lines, wrinkles and pores is diminished as a firmer, more lifted, beautifully ageless look is revealed.

This is my absolute favorite serum of all time. The difference is overnight. It also cleared my breakouts as well. This is one of the few products where I can see the difference in my face and I've recommended it to everyone and everyone had great results from it. It reduce the lines on your face and clear any imperfection.. It was very hard for me to find a serum that was both anti-aging and soothing to the skin so I don't breakout. After the first week of using this, my face was completely clear and dewy.

This is by far the best serum from La Mer. The texture is very milky and sinks into your skin right away. It's great for both day and night and it kind of creates a soft canvas for your lotion/cream. I've noticed when using this serum during the day, I don't get as shiny as if I were to use another serum. This is one product I will always recommend to anyone that is looking for something anti-aging where you can see the results.

So worth the money!

Verdict: RUN OUT AND BUY IT! 
Regenerating Serum is $260
http://www.cremedelamer.com/templates/products/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY23101&PRODUCT_ID=PROD15901

The Radiant Serum:
This ultralight gel serum boosts skin's ability to reflect light.

The Radiant Serum illuminates the complexion immediately on contact, awakening a brilliant new clarity. Targeted skin tone correctors dissolve the look of discoloration. Water borne anti-oxidants help skin remain looking more even and bright into the future.

La Mer's Radiant Waters™ smooth away dull surface cells that obscure light. Pores are purified and refined. Exclusive marine extracts firm and plump skin's appearance, breathing life into the complexion.

I've tried this serum many times. I like it, but I don't love it. The texture is kind of sticky and and it dries on your skin leaving a strange texture for your lotion/cream to go on. The main reason for my ambivalent feeling about this serum is the fact that I didn't notice any results from it. Originally, I thought I would like this more than the Regenerating Serum because this one is supposed to purify the pores and refine the skin and get rid of discoloration, but it didn't do any of that. Actually, the regenerating serum gets rid of breakouts more than this and does a better job at evening out the skin tone.

I really don't see a reason buying this over the Regenerating since they are the same price. I can see people using this for the day and the regenerating at night, otherwise, just use the regenerating.

Verdict: Try it
The Radiant Serum is $260
http://www.cremedelamer.com/templates/products/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY23101&PRODUCT_ID=PROD16769

The Lifting Intensifier:
This targeted treatment utilizes a mesh-like matrix containing Blue Algae Lift Ferment™ and other key ingredients to help skin promote its natural collagen and elastin network where support is needed most. It instantly tightens skin's surface and works over time to "train" skin to sustain a smooth, resilient, more lifted appearance.

First off, I want you to know I don't have a lot of visible wrinkles that needs to be fixed other than expression lines, so I can't give you a feedback on if it actually lifts the skin. However, a friend of mine tried it and said she really likes it, but still prefers the Regenerating Serum.

The Lifting Intensifier used to be sold as a duo along with the Lifting Serum, but I guess with all the new serums that are obviously doing better, they got rid of the Lifting Serum and just kept this one. I don't really like the texture of this serum. It is very sticky and it leaves a sticky film on the skin and for some reason, I feel like my skin cannot breath under this serum. I also noticed I am more prone to breakout when I'm on this serum. So this is not exactly my favorite one.

As for lifting, I don't really feel it personally. I am not sure I will come back to this and invest the money when Regenerating Serum is far superior. Also, this is more of a targeted treatment than for the entire face....though I used it for my entire face!

Verdict: Try it...maybe. 
The Lifting Intensifier is $155
http://www.cremedelamer.com/templates/products/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY23101&PRODUCT_ID=PROD6842

La Mer also came out with a Brightening Serum, which I've used and will write a review soon (don't buy it, it's not that good).

The La Mer Concentrate is amazing for scars. Way better than ScarsGuard and Merderma. It's great for the face, too, but for $400, i think you should just save that for scars.

It's SO hot in LA so here's a random post

It was in the 90's yesterday and I was dying in this heat then I ran across this recipe and thought I'd share it on my blog.

Watermelon Slushies

Ingredients-

• 3 cups watermelon cubed and frozen
• 1 banana peeled, sliced and frozen
• 2 limes (use juice and zest)
• 2 Tbsp. agave nectar
• 1/2 cup water 

Add frozen cubed watermelon, frozen banana slices, zest and juice from 2 limes, agave nectar and water to blender. Blend until smooth. Add more water if needed to keep the mixture flowing.

For more , go on this blog where i found the recipe-  http://www.chef-in-training.com/2012/07/watermelon-slushies/

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster Review

From their website-
Like a daily vitamin for your face, this high powered vitamin C complex helps smooth out lines and wrinkles and prevents further damage. Loaded with antioxidants to fight off environmental aggressors and moisture-binding ingredients to keep your skin nourished and protected, this aromatic serum is absorbed instantly and penetrates to the deeper layers of the skin to provide long term results. Sensitive skin prone to irritation will benefit immensely from the calming properties of this oil-free serum.

Ingredient benefits

Grapefruit and orange extract Purifying, astringent, brightening
Green tea extract Protects against damage with antioxidants
Rosehips extract Repairs and strengthens with concentrated vitamin C
Sodium hyaluronate Binds moisture to the skin
Vitamin C Calms, heals and strengthens collagen
Vitamin E Heals, restores and nourishes


Vit C serums are great for people that want to get rid of sun spots or discolorations, and also it is full of antioxidants to combat aging. I liked this serum for a few reasons. It smells amazing, like oranges, and it sinks into the skin very well. It kept my skin hydrated without feeling greasy even with my lotion on top.


For those that are not familiar with Ole Henriksen, he is a celebrity facialist and has a spa on Sunset Blvd behind on the restaurants at the Sunset Plaza. It's kind of hard to find at first, because the entrance is behind the building in the parking lot..... (there's a yummy cupcake store right next door!)


I love his colorful packaging and this Vit C Serum is definitely one of his most popular products. I do think there are stronger anti-aging products and whitening/brightening products on the market, but this is a great start for someone that is looking to start their anti-aging routine!

Verdict: Try it! 

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster is $72 (there's a smaller size for sale as well, but get the big one)
Read more on their site- http://www.olehenriksen.com/p-68-truth-serum-collagen-booster.aspx

Caudalie Cleansing Water Review

A soap-free, three-in-one cleanser, makeup remover, and toner for face and eyes that's perfect for all skin types - even the most sensitive.

Gently, yet thoroughly cleanses and removes makeup. Micellar water captures dirt like tiny "dirt magnets" and sweeps it away without rubbing, while the soothing and hydrating active ingredients work to add radiance.

I have tried a few cleansing waters and none of which was worthy of a review, but I thought this one from Caudalie was pretty decent. Personally, I wouldn't use this as my main cleanser for morning or night. I tried using this in the morning but it didn't feel "clean" and I ended up having to wash my face again with another cleanser. I ended up using this right after the gym and it does a great job cleaning off my sweat and dirt I accumulate from the gym.

The one thing I don't like is the scent it leaves on your face. I am very sensitive to scents and it's a bit too strong and lingers for way too long. It smells kind of funny to me, which psychologically makes me feel like my face is still dirty.

I do think this is a great cleansing water to keep on the go or for times where you don't have time to wash your face completely. Just pour some on a cotton/silk pad and wipe your face with it.

Verdict: Try it
Caudalie Cleansing Water is $26  (the small one is $14)
Read more on their site- http://www.caudalie-usa.com/face/cleansers-toners/cleansing-water.html