Toss your wallets out! GIVENCHY LE SOIN NOIR LACE MASK IS HERE!!!!

From their site: 

"...the haute couture beauty secret" -VOGUE magazine

This exquisite mask lifts and contours facial features with high-performance sculpting couture lace.

The intricate lace pattern comfortably fits each face to infuse skin with powerful anti-aging Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate.

The rare black concentrate rebuilds skin-defense mechanisms by linking collagen fibers altered by age.

Your skin is denser, firmer, lifted, enriched and radiant for an instant youthful appearance. Includes 4 masks.

 

I have been waiting for this mask to be here for the longest time. Now they just need to get the Le Soin Noir Serum here as well. Yes, it's an expensive mask, but when you're a beauty junkie like me, the sky is the limit! Must buy.

 

It is only available on their site for a limited time only, so run out and buy it now, before it's gone!!!

Order here: http://www.givenchybeauty.com/item/Le-Soin-Noir-Lace-Mask#
Le Soin Noir Lace Mask is $326
Pictures are taken from Givenchy.

My $3000 Skincare Routine! La Mer, Givenchy, La Prairie, SkinFood, and Guerlain with reviews!

Yes, I buy and pay for all my products. If anyone wants to send me freebies. I'll be happy to accept ;)

Hey guys!

So the question I get asked the most in person is always "What do you use?” My routine has a few staple products that never change, I do like to play around with new toners or face washes, but as of now, here’s my routine and I've enclosed links that'll take you to my review of the product that I've reviewed.

Clearly, I use a lot more products than most people would need. I do so for a few reasons-- I write a beauty blog and mainly the fact that I work in the luxury industry. Normally you don't need to have a complete day AND night sets of products. So you can probably cut the cost by half.
 

Face Wash: Nude Cleansing Oil ($36) in the morning and La Mer Foam Face Wash ($65) at night
Always try to use a gentle cleanser in the morning. Your face is never too dirty in the morning and you don’t want to strip your skin of its natural oils. I think I might switch to La Mer’s cleansing fluid or another cleanser after I finish the one from Nude. They changed the formula and it’s kind of too rich for me now.

Toner: SkinFood Platinum Grape Cell Toner $60  in the morning and Guerlain abeilleroyale Lotion (which is a toner) $61 at night

You don’t really need to have two different toners. I just like to try different products so I have two. I actually have 4, but these two are my main ones. I think eventually I will go back to SKII’s Facial Treatment Essence, which is holy water for the face!

Serum: Guerlain Orchidee Imperial Serum ($465) in the morning and La Mer Regenerating Serum
($275)
I like to treat my face differently day and night so I use two different serums. I always use one that prevents sun spots and hyperpigmentation during the day and I use a rich anti-aging one at night. La Mer Regenerating Serum is one serum I will always have in my array of products. It is by far the best anti-aging serum I’ve used. I love the Guerlain Orchidee Imperial Serum. It has a light shimmer but you can’t see it on your face. I almost like it more than the La Prairie Illuminating Brightening Serum. It’s more hydrating and soothing. It smells great too.

Eye Cream: La Prarie White Caviar Illuminating Eye Serum ($265) and La Mer Eye Concentrate
($180)
I actually use La Prarie Eye Serum more. I just have some La Mer Eye Concentrate left so once I'm done, I'm just going to switch to the eye serum only.

Moisturizer: La Mer Lotion during the day and Givenchy Le Soin Noir ($380) or La Mer Cream at night ($275)

I will always have La Mer Lotion for use during the day and the Givenchy Le Soin Noir Cream. It’s two of the best products I’ve ever used for my skin. Le Soin Noir is pricey, but it’s totally worth the money.

Mask: I use cheap facial masks from My Beauty Diaries and once a week I use La Mer’s Refining Facial Mask.

I use Retin-A Gel at night as well.

You have one face. Invest well.

Bliss triple oxygen™ instant energizing mask review

Bliss triple oxygen™ instant energizing mask

From their site: A super quick fix for dull, tired and sallow, 'I'm sick of my skin' skin. Engineered to mimic the effects of our spa's famous Triple Oxygen Treatment Facial in seconds. This fabulous complexion formula uses every 'tech' in the book to give you fresher, younger-looking skin. 3.4 oz

•delivers oxygen to the skin with innovative Fluid02 technology
•lightens, and tightens the skin with the most active powerful form of Vitamin C available
•protects cells from free radical damage with powerful antioxidants

My take: 
It's always hard to review a mask, because you don't always see a difference immediately and most masks are just hydrating masks. I see masks more like a boost. It's great having a hydrating mask on at the end of the day to give your skin a little boost. I use one right after my shower when your pores are open from the steam in the shower and it would soak up anything you put on your face.  

OK, let's move on to the actual product. I bought it after reading all the great reviews and I thought the product fell short. I didn't see or feel a difference in my skin at all. It was fun to see the foam bubbles on your face but I didn't really notice a difference even after continued use. I gave it to my mom and she gave it back to me saying it didn't do anything for her and she ended up using it as a hand mask lol. 

So I really don't know what all the hypes are around this product. Maybe it'll be a different experience at the Bliss Spa. I do, however, like the triple oxygen energizing cream from the line. I will write a review on that down the line.  I think most people that have tried it and liked it are younger, maybe late teens to early 20's, but that's just my take!

If you like seeing bubbles and foam on your face, this can be a fun product for you, other than that, I am a bit hesitant to recommend it. 

Grade: C-
Bliss triple oxygen™ instant energizing mask is $54
Read more on their site: http://www.blissworld.com/bliss-triple-oxygentrade-instant-energizing-mask/

 

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

My Beauty Diary Bird's Nest Mask Review

My Beauty Diary Bird’s Nest Mask whitens, nourishes and renews the skin.

Bird’s nest extract, a precious ingredient, and corallina officinalis, the so-called “bird’s nest from the bottom of the sea”, intensely enhances skin’s moisture level, and nourishes strongly.

Hydrolyzed soy and rice protein enhance skin’s defence, elasticity and transparency. They also relieve discomfort resulting from dryness.

It is suitable for normal skin. It is especially recommended for dry, rough and dull skin.

I thought I'll write another review of a Mask Sheet after the Shiseido one I reviewed last week. My Beauty Diary is probably a brand that no one's ever heard of, but it is actually pretty common and well known with the Chinese crowd. It's not exactly high-end, but I thought they are comparable with other high end brands.

My Beauty Diary is a brand from Taiwan. What I like about it is how moist the sheets are. There's so much serum on the mask sheets that I rub the excess over my body as a body serum. They say not to wash the rest of the serum off after you take off the mask, but I find the serum a bit too sticky and thick so I do wash my face with water after I take off the mask.

I haven't noticed any dramatic difference, but as most of the masks I've reviewed, it's hard to notice a difference with them right away unless it's a peel or an exfoliating mask. My skin feels fresh and extremely hydrated after this mask, which is why I've continued to use it. It doesn't hurt that it's pretty cheap as well. I think this is almost good enough to use everyday or every other day if your skin is parched. I have extremely sensitive skin and I find this mask very soothing.

The other thing I want to point out is that they have many different masks. The list is very long, but the black pearl powder and the aloe vera ones are pretty decent. They also have a chocolate mask as well, which smells good enough to eat.

The only downside is the cut out of the sheet itself. It's WAY too small around the eyes and the mouth. I find myself having to tear the corner of the eyes just so it wouldn't cover my eyes, I also tear the piece above my lips so it wouldn't cover my upper lip.

It might be hard to find in stores, but if you go to any Asian beauty store, they should have it. I have noticed it's been easier to find online within the last year or so. Even Amazon has them now.

For the price, I would def recommend it! I will post a review of SkinFood mask sheets as well soon. I like theirs better.

Verdict: Buy it!
My Beauty Diary Bird's Nest Mask is $21 (for 10 sheets)
Read more on their website- www.beautydiary.com.tw/en

Shiseido BENEFIANCE Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask Review

A concentrated treatment sheet mask that encourages skin's natural recovery function and provides a rich infusion of moisture to help improve texture. Restores youthful suppleness and radiance with a single application.

• Developed with Shiseido-original Pure Liquid Retinol Delivery System, to penetrate skin rapidly and help combat wrinkles, dryness, and dullness.
• Formulated with aquatic plant extract Chlorella, a skin-vitality enhancer.
• Contains Hydroxyproline, a high-technology amino acid that parallels skin's own natural building blocks of collagen.

Shiseido always make great products, and this one is no exception. The box comes with 4 masks packaged individually. There's the top mask and the bottom mask making it easier to put on and take off than most mask sheets.

I used this after the shower and it gave me a nice "glow". My face looked hydrated and fresh. I think it's always hard to judge a mask, because most of the time you can't really see a difference, especially when it's an anti-aging mask. However, if you're into anti-aging, you know retinol is a good anti-aging ingredient.

I use prescription strength Retin-A (tretinoin) gel everyday and I've always seen retinol as a less effective and weaker version of Retin-A, even though they are distinctly different. Retin-A can only be obtained if your dermatologist write you a perspection and Retinol products can be purchased in stores. Both are used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, but different.

I think this is a decent mask, but I couldn't stand the scent of the mask. Shiseido products usually smell great, but for some reason I felt like I had an old lady's overly perfumed wet blanket on my face the entire time. I almost wanted to take it off immediately, but for the sake of writing an review for it, I stuck it out.

I use Retin-A gel on a nightly basis so I don't feel the need of adding this mask to my regular routine. Also, it is the price of my Retin-A prescription so I'd rather spend the money on that. I do think there are better masks on the market, and because of the dismal scent, I am not going to recommend this. This is solely based on the scent alone and the fact that I already use Rein-A gel on a nightly basis.

If you want to try it, you can. As I mentioned, Shiseido make great products so it's really up to your personal needs.

Also, I want to mention that if you have very sensitive skin, you might want to avoid reintol products. It can irritate some sensitive skin.

Verdict: Skip it/ try it
Shiseido BENEFIANCE Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask is $62.50
Read more on their website- http://www.shiseido.com/benefiance-pure-retinol-intensive-revitalizing-face-mask/0729238191075,default,pd.html

ROSE FACE MASK $55

Rose Face Mask hydrates and tones the complexion to restore radiance and suppleness to all skin types. The unique, cooling gel formula is infused with pure rosewater and real rose petals that literally melt into the skin.

Key ingredients:
-Pure rosewater and real rose petals are notable for their soothing and toning properties
-Cucumber extract and aloe vera gel help to reduce inflammation and have an immediate cooling and calming effect
-Porphyridium cruentum, a “smart” algae, delivers optimum moisture
-Antioxidant-rich green tea helps to brighten and protect

Fresh was one of the very first luxury brands that I tried when I got into skin care and it is still one of my favorite brands. They use very clean ingredients that you can feel and see and the results have been good.

Rose Face Mask smells like heaven and you can see the rose petals inside the jar and they melt into your skin once you rub it on your face. It's very hydrating and calming and the rose scent is quite intoxicating. It feels like a luxurious treatment, but I have yet seen any noticeable results. I think as a hydrating mask, it does its job extremely well and I don't think it claims to be anything else. If you're looking for an anti-aging mask, try their Black Tea Skin Perfecting Mask, that one is amazing.

This is one of those products that I would love to get as a gift, but I would be hesitant to spend my own money on it, because it's just a very fancy hydrating mask. But if you have great disposable income and you want to feel fancy, go ahead and buy it!

Verdict: Try it!

Rose Face Mask is $55
Read more on their website- http://www.fresh.com/skincare/mask/rose-face-mask

La Mer "The Essence" Facial at Hotel Bel-Air

This was at the entrance of the room

So I had the luxury of being invited by La Mer to try "The Essence" facial at Hotel Bel-Air yesterday and I absolutely LOVED it.


The Essence by La Mer is one of the world’s most expensive beauty products, priced at $2100. Its extraordinary packaging was designed by La Mer’s team, including Jesse Chertoff, design director, and Shane Butler, package designer.

The Essence contains magnetized tourmaline, which keeps its active ferments suspended. Magnets hidden inside the package keep the tourmaline’s ingredients magnetically charged.

The Essence is a milky texture, very much like the Regenerating Serum, and it feels like a mixture of The Concentrate and Regenerating Serum on the skin. It absorbs very quickly into the skin like most of La Mer Serums.

I literally had a halo glow effect to my face after the facial. The facialist applied the Cream on my face after the facial and normally it would've been too heavy during the day, but for some reason the combination of the Essence and the Cream provided the perfect balance for my skin.

Obviously for $2100, most people would just pay a visit to the dermatologist for injections, but for those that are looking for an alternative, you might want to give this a try.

"The Essence Facial" included-

• Cleansing of the face with The La Mer Cleansing Foam and Tonic
• Exfoliation by La Mer Refining Facial (which is basically a fine scrub, I will review it in the future) 
• Massage with La Mer Cleansing Gel
• La Mer Mist 
• The Mask-- which is basically a heavy thick layer of Creme de La Mer for 10 mins
• The Hydrating Infusion (Will Review in the future)
• The Essence (LOVE!) as the serum 
• Creme de La Mer as the finishing touch!

Then you leave feeling like a million bucks and glowing for the next few days!

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate® Intensive $85

Clarify and polish skin to reveal a glowing, fresh-from-the-Clinic complexion. Microbeads and Fruit Enzymes are intended to clean pores, while Salicylic Acid is formulated to balance hydration, without over-drying. See dramatically smoother, brighter, healthier-looking skin after just one treatment.

This is by far one of the best facial exfoliants on the market. I have very stubborn blackheads and this treatment seem to clear all my blackheads on my nose and smooth out the top layer of your skin. The current tube packing is better than the pump jar they had few years ago. It was so hard to get the product out that i stopped buying it. I'm glad they changed it to the squeeze tube.

You only need a little for the whole face. Sometimes I just use it on my nose to clear the blackheads. If you have sensitive skin, I suggest you buy the Sensitive version, because it is pretty intense. You can see the difference in your skin with one use. It's a great treatment to do weekly to clear your pores and get rid of all the dead skin cells.

Get it!

Grade: A

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate® Intensive is $85
Read more on their site- http://www.katesomerville.com/exfolikate-intensive-exfoliating-treatment/

BLACK TEA INSTANT PERFECTING MASK $88

Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask with advanced antioxidants is a hydrating treatment that immediately reveals softer, firmer, healthier-looking skin. The innovative formula’s velvety whipped texture has an immediate cooling effect to refresh the skin and the senses.

Key ingredients:
-Black tea ferment is an advanced antioxidant that helps to defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals while softening, smoothing, and enhancing luster

-Lychee seed extract is known to boost collagen *

-Firming polysaccharides help to smooth the skin

-Jicima root juice is notable for its hydrating and nourishing properties

This is one of my favorite masks on the market. If you are like me, you probably wonder what exactly is the use of a mask that is not exfoliating or cleansing. I think this mask will give you the answer like it did for me. My skin feels calmer, smoother, and more even toned after using this mask. What I love the most about this mask is the tingling sensation you get after you wash it off. It's quite invigorating.

I've also tried their Rose Petal Mask and i think that one is good as well, but I didn't really see the difference with the Rose Mask other than the fact that it smelled amazing.

There are not that many masks on the market that I would recommend simply because I never really noticed a difference with them. However, this one is def a good one to try if you're into masks. Get it!

Grade: B+
Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask is $88
Read more on their website- http://www.fresh.com/skincare/mask/black-tea-instant-perfecting-mask