Friday, December 28, 2012

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.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

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
 
 

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

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

Saturday, December 22, 2012

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. 

  

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

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: 
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