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

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Le Metier de Beaute Revitalizing Anti-Aging Day Creme

From their site- This luxurious, lightweight emulsion dramatically slows the formation of expression lines—from forehead and smile lines to brow furrows—as it refreshes the skin's overall appearance. Broad-spectrum SPF 15, along with a host of proven and highly potent anti-aging ingredients, increase hydration, soften fine lines and wrinkles, minimize the appearance of pore size and improve elasticity. Skin looks, feels and acts more youthful.

Active Ingredients

• Retinol (.05%): an anti-aging powerhouse known to smooth and plump wrinkles, encourage collagen revitalization, and bring elasticity back to skin.
• SNAP 8 (.005%): an anti-aging, power-peptide that reduces the depth of wrinkles on the face caused by expression muscles, specifically in forehead and eye-areas.
• Coenzyme Q10 (.05%): proven anti-aging active reduces depth of age-related wrinkles and protects against photo-aging.
• L-Carnosine (.1%): aids in the loss of keratin degradation, which causes rough, dry skin

This is one of those products that looks flawless on paper, but fails to deliver. I am really not a fan of beauty products adding SPF to their products, because it always make the consistency either greasy or powdery, and don't get me started on that sunscreen smell.

I wanted to love this product and looking at the list of ingredients, I was for sure this was going to be my new favorite cream, but I just didn't love it. It doesn't smell that good, it kind of reminds me of the smell of La Prairie products. I think products with too many active ingredients end up smelling plastic or chemical. 

You can definitely feel the SPF in the product on your skin. It is a little bit hard to blend into the skin and it just feels "thick" sitting on top of the skin. SPF 15 is almost nothing, so you're still going to want to apply a SPF 30 and over on top of this. It was also a bit too dry for my skin, which could just be my skin tightening, but ultimately, I didn't see enough results to continue, especially with this price. 

I got a tester of their toner and it smelled like rubbing alcohol to me. Don't think I will be coming back to this line. 

Verdict: Skip it  
Metier de Beaute Revitalizing Anti-Aging Day Creme is $285
Read more at: http://www.lemetierdebeaute.com/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=42

A Step Too Far?

'Face-kinis' all the rage on Chinese beaches

While Westerners love to bronze, Chinese beachgoers are going all out to shield themselves from the sun's rays with colorful nylon face masks. In some cultures, a tan suggests a life of outdoor peasant work, while a pale complexion implies luxury and success.

These Chinese women are not pretending to be superheroes; rather they are wearing nylon masks on a beach in Qingdao, Shandong to block the sun's rays. 

Wow, I don't even know where to begin! Being Chinese myself, I would NEVER go that far to shield my skin from the sun. I would just stay away from the beach during sunny days. And i thought those crazy visor masks were too much.

What do you guys think about this new trend? This is going under the label "craziness"!

Original article with photo credit: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/china-s-face-masked-swimmers-slideshow/

La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Serum Review

La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Serum

The most potent product of the system, combining anti-aging, anti-pigmentation and luminescence with pearlescent pigments and liquid crystals to inhibit melanin production, detoxify and beautify.

Dark spots and uneven coloring can give your skin an aged look beyond its years. This potent anti-pigmentation serum interrupts the cycle that creates age spots, stopping discoloration before it begins. As existing spots fade, the skin takes on a new brightness. 

The Benefits

• Promotes even skin tone by decreasing transfer of dark pigment to the surface of the skin
• Lifts and firms with Golden Caviar Extracts and anti-aging peptides
• Reduces wrinkles caused by repeated facial expressions
• Delays aging signs with powerful antioxidants including Tomato Fruit Extract, Larch Tree Extract, and White Tea Complex

This has become one of my favorite serums! It is a beautiful pearlescent serum that melts into your skin that brightens up your entire complexion while reducing wrinkles caused my repeated facial expression!

I'm at the age where I'm starting to see some expression lines and this serum has helped minimize them from daily use. I use this day and night. I have received some great compliments on my skin while on this and I've noticed my skin tone looks a lot more even and some minor dark spots have faded.

You can hide a lot of flaws when your skin is on the whiter side that's why Asians are obsessed with whitening/brightening their skins. And please note, whitening does not mean bleaching of the skin, it simply means brightening of the skin and the overall texture so it looks like you have a light shining from within.

I love the pearlescent texture of serum. It literally looks like a melted pearl when you put this on your finger tip and it goes on smooth like velvet.

I would definitely recommend this serum. I don't think you need the face cream from this line, because personally, the face cream was a bit too dry for my combination skin. So if you're going to but either or, I would choose this serum over the cream, and the serum has more of the active ingredient anyway.

It is $470 (yikes), but it falls into the category of "You only have one face! So take care of it!" Definitely worth it.

Verdict: Buy it!

La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Serum is $470

La Prairie's White Caviar Illuminating Cream Review

 White Caviar Illuminating Cream

From their site- This blissfully light and luxurious cream drenches the skin with moisture as it lightens, brightens, and lifts, giving you a more even skin tone, with improved firmness. Pearlescent powders in the cream give immediate illumination while a complex of brightening ingredients works to control age spots and discoloration on the skin's surface.

• Promotes even skin tone by slowing down production of excess pigment
• Lifts and firms with Golden Caviar Extracts and wrinkle-reducers
• Hydrates intensely with Rare White Honey and a Deep Moisturizing Complex
• Helps prevent future signs of aging with antioxidants, including White Truffles, White Wine Extract, and a White Flower Complex

This was the last product I tried from this line. I thought it would be a lot richer and creamier from the jar, but it's actually a very light cream that absorbs very quickly into the skin and it kept my combination skin shine free in 90+ degree weather. I do feel a slightly reaction to the cream like I've experienced with their other facial creams, but nothing major enough to make me stop using the product. La Prairie's products are usually pretty active (but good!). 

After 2 days of using this Day and Night, I've received many compliments and even strangers asking me how I keep my skin so perfect. Personally, I would like the cream to be a bit richer for night, but clearly it's doing its job and made my face, especially my forehead a flawless canvas. The only downside is the scent. It smells like most of their facial creams, a little bit of a chemical smell, but it's not strong enough to bother anyone.

It's great to keep your skin from getting sunspots. I think it's a great cream to prevent and correct. Definitely would recommend. 

For the price of $470. It is pretty steep. If you have the money and in desperate need of a product to correct discoloration, this is a great line.

La Prairie's White Caviar Illuminating Cream is $470
Verdict: Try it/Buy it!

La Prairie's White Caviar line coming soon!

 

Can't wait to share my review of this entire line.