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.

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.

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!

Chanel SUBLIMAGE LA CRÈME TEXTURE SUPREME $390

With a single key ingredient, Vanilla Planifolia—a rare botanical found in the farthest reaches of Madagascar—LA CRÈME unlocks the key to beauty and self-confidence. The ultimate skincare indulgence, LA CRÈME creates a glowing, luminous and even-toned complexion. Facial contours become visibly firmer and signs of aging seem to disappear. Enhancing the experience: a delicate, refined fragrance and sumptuously rich feel.

Chanel's Sublimage collection is their most high-end skincare line. I am a big fan of Chanel's skincare products and I love the smell of all their products. I have used Sublimage Eye Cream, which wasn't memorable so I didn't bother trying other products until they launched the La Creme Texture Supreme . La Creme Texture Supreme is the richest and the most concentrated version of their moisturizer in the collection.

When I was on this product, I used it as a night cream and it kept my skin hydrated overnight, which is very rare. The only other cream that kept my skin hydrated overnight is Givenchy's Le Soin Noir.  I was actually surprised by how much I liked this cream. However, I didn't really see any major changes in my skin other than it feeling very hydrated and smooth.

I do think it's a great cream, but the price tag is a little bit too high for the minimal results I experienced. I like it, but I don't love it. With La Mer and Le Soin Noir, or even Natura Bisse, I was able to see a difference in my skin within days, which justified my spending. Chanel La Creme would be something that I would love to receive as a present, but I probably wouldn't spend my own money on it since you can buy something better with the same price.

The packaging is beautiful and fancy as you would expect from Chanel. It makes a great presence, especially if you buy the Sublimage gift set. I do think you're spending more for the brand than the actual result you'll get from the product.

Verdict: Try it

Chanel SUBLIMAGE LA CRÈME  TEXTURE SUPREME is $390
Read more on their website- http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Skincare-Complete-Anti-aging-SUBLIMAGE-LA-CR%C3%88ME-125545

Givenchy Le Soin Noir $380

Givenchy Le Soin Noir contains an extremely precious, natural age-defying ingredient that will secure its status in your antiaging routine. Used for the first time in cosmetics, Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate restores communication between the skin's cells. Givenchy's researchers have developed a method to infuse this potion with a rare black algae extract to help maintain and prolong cellular longevity. Parched skin drinks in the hydration it needs—leaving your complexion firm, glowing, and even-toned.

I call this face lift in a jar. My absolute favorite product on the market. It is very pricey, yes, but it's worth every penny. The cream itself is black, but it becomes translucent once it touches your skin. The texture is more like cream gelatin, not so much of a gel, because I'm allergic to gels and I've had no problem with this.

Normally I can tell if a cream is moisturizing or not by using it at night, and often times I wake up with my skin feeling dry. This is the only cream I've ever used that have managed to keep my skin plumped and hydrated throughout the entire night without feeling dry the next morning. I also sleep with a humidifier next to my bed stand, which I highly recommend (Yes, beauty takes a lot of work).

I call this face lift in a jar, because it lifts and diminishes your lines and wrinkles. I've received many compliments on my skin when I use this. I stopped using it for awhile, because it is so expensive and within a few days, I lost that "glow" to my face.

The only down side to this (besides the hefty price tag) is that it is very hard to find. Sephora seem to be the only place that carries it. You can find it in their store in NY or their online store. However, it is always out of stock on their website.

Also, I suggest only using this at night for two reason- 1. It's expensive. 2. Sometimes I do see a little bit of the gray coloring on my face, but if I'm just lounging around in the house, I don't really care what my face looks like. Also, I don't think sunblock goes on well on top of this cream because the texture is so unique.  So you might have some problem with makeup, not sure, since I don't wear makeup.

It's one of my favorite products on the market and it is worth every penny. I kept all the jars after I've used up the cream and they make great coffee table display or tea-light candle holders. (A very expensive conversation starter!)

I'll write a review on Le Soin Noir Serum and Eye Cream soon!

Verdict: RUN OUT AND BUY IT!

Givenchy Le Soin Noir is $380
Read more on their website- http://www.givenchybeauty.com/item/Le-Soin-Noir