Guerlain Abeille Royal Lotion Review $61

Born from the exceptional repairing power of bee products, this toner prepares the skin to optimize the firming, wrinkle correction action of Abeille Royale skin care.

As if stimulated from within, the skin is smoothed and firmed, glowing with a youthful radiance. Its fresh, delicately creamy texture leaves the skin soft and plump.

Continuing the trend of calling a toner "lotion", this "lotion" is actually a toner. I don't understand why they do this 'cause it can be confusing for people buying products on the internet and sometimes I don't even know a particular line has a "toner" until I see it in person. OK, that's my little rant, let's move on to the product itself.

This is probably my favorite toner at the moment right now. The texture is thicker than your usual liquid toner. I would say it's almost like a serum, but a little watery. The scent is very pleasing to the nose and very relaxing. It's sweet, but not overpowering. I wish they would come out with a body lotion with this scent.

There isn't a way of telling if it's a toner is good or not, so I always look at the ingredient list and see what the first 3 ingredients are. I remember this toner had Royal Jelly listed in the first few ingredients, meaning it's one of the most prominent ingredient in the toner. I've always been a fan of Royal Jelly. I take Royal Jelly supplements on a daily basis. It's great for anti-aging and overall health. It slows down the aging process.

This toner would be great for all types of skin. I have very sensitive skin and sometimes when I feel my skin is dehydrated, this toner soothes it. It also claims to have firming and wrinkle correction action, but honestly, I haven't really noticed that, but it is very soothing and hydrating, probably the richest toner I've ever tried. I also don't really think a toner should claim to have lifting or anti-aging benefits. Spend that money on a good night cream or serum, not on a toner.

The price point for this is not too bad for luxury brand toners,

Verdict: Buy it! 
Guerlain Abeille Royal Lotion is $61
Read more about it at- http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/Guerlain-Abeille-Royal-Lotion-Skin-Care/prod139350093/

Dr. Brandt's "Pores No More" Pore Refiner Review

From their website- Dr. Brandt’s quick fix for flawless, photo-ready skin fits seamlessly into any individual’s regimen – skincare or makeup – because of its incredible ability to instantly hide the appearance of pores and mattify shine. This silky, smooth formula glides onto clean skin or on top of makeup leaving an un-tinted, powder finish. Tea tree and flaxseed extract provide continuous pore refining benefits, while micro-spheres diffuse light and have a high oil absorption capacity so skin looks and feels smoother, more uniform and shine-free. Also available in a tinted formula.

• hides & refines pores
• instantly mattifies shine
• absorbs excess oil & helps regulate oil production
• smoothes & evens skin’s appearance

I have always been a fan of Dr. Brandt's products. I think they were the first serious skincare brand I tried and loved when I was dealing with breakouts. I loved this one product they had called "Pore Effect" it was a rich moisturizer that refines your pores and hydrates your skin without making it greasy, but for some reason they got rid of that product and have since gone through so many changes. 


Dr. Brandt came on the scene and was so popular with their microdermabrasion. It was before Microdermabrasion was considered mainstream or common. I still think they have one of the better microderms on the market. They have since launched so many different lines that I think it's kind of hard to keep up, and sometimes it does make me feel like the brand has kind of cheapen its brand position in the luxury market overtime. I don't really consider it as high-end anymore, it's more high performance. They are also now on QVC. 


Anyhow, let's talk about Pores No More. I use this on my T-zone, and it does a good job at diminishing the look of your pores and keeping it matte. I have tried to use it all over the face, but it flakes off like eraser for some reason, and i've only had this problem with some sunscreens, so it must be some of the ingredients they are using. 


It doesn't keep the shines away from my nose throughout the entire day, but nothing really does. The only shine mattifier that worked on my skin was Laura Geller's Welcome Matte, but since they pulled that from Sephora, I haven't found it anywhere. 


I think Dr. Brandt's Pores No More is decent, I haven't found anything that is better, but I definitely think there are better products out there to keep the shine away, but for now, I will always have a tube of this in my bathroom. It also has a light tint to it, which I like. If you want more of a full tint, they just came out with a version that is tinted. 


Verdict: Try it
Dr. Brandt's "Pores No More" Pore Refiner is $45
Read more on their website- http://www.drbrandtskincare.com/product/pores+no+more+pore+refiner.do?sortby=ourPicks

Holy Grail of Sunscreen-- EltaMD UV CLEAR BROAD-SPECTRUM SPF 46

A winner of the ELLE 2010 Genius Award: Skin

• Broad-Spectrum UVA/UVB Sun Protection
• SPF 46 with 9% Micronized Zinc Oxide and high-purity Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
• Calms and protects sensitive, acne-prone skin
• Very lightweight, oil-free formula leaves no residue on skin’s surface
• Use alone or under makeup every day
• Noncomedogenic, paraben-free, fragrance-free and sensitivity-free

Active Ingredients:   9.0% Zinc Oxide 7.5% Octinoxate  




Summer is here! I reviewed my favorite sunscreen for the body few days ago, now I want to share my sunscreen for the face. This has been my sunscreen for my face the past few years. I absolutely love all of ELTAMD's sunscreens. I was on the search for a sunscreen that won't leave a white film on my face like I'm wearing a foundation 100 shades too light and it even got to a point that I had to stop wearing sunscreen because I just couldn't find any. I've tried almost all over the counter sunscreens  and they either make my face looks greasy or leave a white powdery film that flakes off. 

The ELTA MD UV Clear goes on so smooth and clear and it even calms and protect sensitive skin and prevents your skin from breaking out if you're acne-prone. I tend to breakout more during the Summer if I'm sweating too much and don't have time to wash my face so this is really a holy grail that does it all. 

The only downside is it's very hard to find. You have to find it at a dermatologist's office. You don't need a prescription for it, but they are the only outlets that carries them, unless you order them online. 

If you're looking for a sunscreen, always make sure the active ingredient is Zinc, and make sure it's 30 and over. And Broad-spectrum basically means it covers UVA and UVB protection. UVA rays are the rays from the sun that penetrates deeper into the skin that causes aging and UVB are the rays that causes the burn. Always make sure you cover both! 

Ps. Shiseido makes awesome sunscreen, too if you are a fan of Shiseido's products. 

EltaMD UV CLEAR BROAD-SPECTRUM SPF 46 is $29
Read more on their site- http://www.eltamd.com/ProductDetail.aspx?p=18

  

FRESH RICE DRY OIL REVIEW ($48)

Rice Dry Oil combines the regenerative benefits of rice bran oil with the restorative actions of jojoba oil to pick up where any cleansing ritual leaves off.

Key Ingredients:
- Antioxidant borage and grapeseed oils are immediately absorbed, imparting a silky finish and sensual sheen
- Anti-inflammatory arnica, ginseng and passionflower extracts warm muscles, perfect for a restorative massage
- The scent of toning camellia and grapefruit is deepened by luscious bourgeon de cassis, ripening into a fruity, earthy essence

I love Fresh as a brand and all their products. They are smell good enough to eat and this one is no exception. The scent for this dry oil is like a mix of white peach and sake. If you follow the brand, you would probably remember their "Memoirs of a Geisha" line, which is still my favorite line/scent from them. This is the closest to the Memoirs of a Geisha scent minus the peony.

Fresh has two body oils, one is rice, one is sugar. Always go for the rice one. The sugar one doesn't smell that great and I always feel like it's more of an afterthought to expand their Sugar Collection, which is their main collection. 

I thought the Rice Dry Oil was decent. It absorbs very quickly into the skin, but somehow my skin still feels kind of dry after, so I do apply lotion on top of this dry oil. A little tip for anyone that is thinking about buying this, it is best to apply it when your skin is still a little damp from the shower, otherwise it's kind of hard to rub this onto your skin.

I do think it's a little bit too pricey for the little bottle. I feel like I can finish the whole bottle in 2 months. The bottle itself is glass, which is always a plus as oils should always be stored in glass in my opinion.

I do love this oil, but then again if I were to use this everyday, it can get pretty expensive and I don't like the fact that I ended up having to apply more lotion on top of this. I think it's going to be one of those products I will buy and only use on special occasions. The scent is divine and if you don't want to wear perfume, you can pretty much just use this as a substitute.

Verdict: Try it!

Rice Dry Oil is $48
Read more on their website- http://www.fresh.com/bodycare/bodycare-sake-rice/rice-dry-oil

COOLA Body SPF 30 Plumeria Moisturizer review ($30)

From their website-
This formula features our exclusive Camilla Sinesis Liposome Complex, a powerful and deeply penetrating moisturizer that fights fine lines as it soothes, rejuvenates and protects. Vitamin C delivers antioxidant protection, while organic Cucumber and Shea Butter help replenish lost moisture during and after your day in the sun. 70% Certified Organic and 95% Natural inactives.

• Hypoallergenic
• Water Resistant
• Paraben Free
• Ultra Sheer
• Water Resistant (40 minutes)
• No nano-sized particles

With Summer arriving, I thought I'll share my favorite sunscreen for the body. Coola is one of the only few "real" organic sunscreen brands on the market. You can actually feel and smell the quality of their products on your skin.

I used to use over the counter Neutrogena sunscreens, but I hated how powdery they felt on the skin and I have black interior in my car and for the longest time I was wondering where all these white powdery marks came from until I realized that's where I rest my arms when I drive. From that point on, I was on the hunt for a sunscreen that is moisturizing and doesn't leave a white film on your skin, and that's when I discovered Coola.

They have different scents for the body sunscreen, but my favorite will always be the Plumeria scent. It smells like a vacation in Hawaii and not overpowering. There are so many things to rave about. It's organic, moisturizing (it's actually a sunscreen moisturizer), and it goes on smooth and clear!

I think SPF 30 is just right and just so you know, you're supposed to reapply your sunscreen every so often throughout the day for continued protection. I also love their Cucumber Sunscreen for the face. I think this is a great line for your Summer needs.



Verdict: Buy it! 
Body SPF 30 Plumeria Moisturizer is $30
Read more on their website- http://www.coolasuncare.com/body/sunscreen-spf-30-plumeria