Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Complexion Serum & Dark Spot Corrector

I couldn't be more thrilled.  Partially because I just ran out of the skin serum I've been using for skin discolorations/sun damage, and partially because I'm really interested in trying a skin care item from Le Métier de Beauté.  So, to receive the Peau Vierge Dark Spot Corrector as October's item is exciting!

According to the info card that came in this month's box, the  Peau Vierge Complexion Serum & Dark Spot Corrector is a 4 in 1 serum designed to deliver results in the first week of use:

1. Skin Complexion:  minimizes blemishes, acne bumps, and T-zone pores
2. Anti-Wrinkle and Fine Line Treatment:  smooths fine lines and wrinkles
3. Skin Tone & Texture:  rebuilds skin and makes it feel softer and more supple
4. Hyperpigmentation:  corrects, reducing dark spots, uneven skin tone, and scarring

Le Métier de Beauté uses a patented delivery system called TPM, which is comprised of Vitamin E phosphates that allow for an increased solubility within the skin.  This translates to faster and more effective penetration of the retinol and other ingredients to treat the skin. 

I started using it Monday evening and will report back with my results, so here's hoping!  The Peau Vierge Complexion Serum and Dark Spot Corrector retails for $125 for half an ounce.  Le Métier de Beauté's first subscription plan , which was a hefty $349 for the year, has already paid for itself by the third month.  Another reason to be thrilled!

Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Coral Reef

When I first saw Revlon's Coral Reef cream blush, I was attracted to the color but thought it was too dark for my complexion.  However, during a recent 40% off sale on Revlon products at Ulta, I decided it was time to give it a try.  I'm glad I did, it's lovely!

Applied lightly

Don't let the vibrancy of the color in the pan fool you into thinking it looks garish on, as Coral Reef can be a soft wash of color or you can built it up to a darker stain.  The finish is a smooth cream to powder and I had no issues with it settling into my pores or looking patchy. 

Two layers of Coral Reef

Coral Reef, one of three cream blush colors created by Revlon's artistic director Gucci Westman for the 2012 Spring collection, was inspired by the glowing skin of a beach beauty.  I actually broke it out on the first fall like day Mobile has experienced this year, one of those gorgeous low humidity, cool and sunny days that make you happy to be alive:-)

You are getting a hefty .44 oz for the almost $13 Coral Reef costs (I paid $7.94 with the discount).   There are two other Photoready cream blush colors available - the bold hot pink Flushed and the soft apricot Pinched - which I'll probably pick up when another good sale roles around. 

Empties! Products I Used Up in September

It took me a while to get photos of the products I used up in September, but here they are!  A few favorites, a few items I'm throwing away because I didn't use them or they don't perform well, and some middle of the pack items.  So, let's start with my favorites last month!

I love using facial oils and serums, and the three I finished up in September were all items items I liked and would use again.  In fact, I just got another of the Maracuja oil mini's from Tarte in a holiday set.   Full of essential fatty acids and Vitamin C, I like using a few drops of this oil at night.  The mini size lasted me several months and a little goes a long way, so I find it fairly economical as well.

For daytime serum use, I alternated between the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster and the Amend Solar Repair.  I've yet to meet an Ole Henriksen skin care product I haven't liked - I find them to be solid performers.  Both serums are antioxidant rich collagen boosters that absorbed easily and worked well under other products. The Amend serum is a dollar more than the Truth Serum at $49 for 1 oz, but I honestly liked both and could go with either one. 

My go to hairspray for years as been Suave Max Hold.  It takes me forever to finish a full bottle as I probably use it only a few times a week at best, but I find it does the job.  At about $3.50 a bottle, can't beat that! 

The last of my favorite items is Prime Time eye primer by Bare Minerals.  This may actually have taken the top spot in my eye primer arsenal, as I find it consistently works well for me.  I've gone through several of these sample sizes and it may be time to buy a full sized one.  Other items of note that I liked:  BeeKind shampoo by Gilchrist & Soames and the HD facial primer by Makeup Forever. 

Middle of the pack items for me were:

• Spackle facial primer by Laura Geller - eh.
• Rock Star hand creme by Julep - I wish it wasn't fragranced.
• Fix Malibu Immaculate Conception facial serum -  I'm ambivalent about the silicone feel/finish.
• Urban Decay Naked 3.5 foundation sample:  I could not find a good color match for my skin.
• Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter moisturizing shampoo and conditioner:  Fekkai products just don't inspire much in me, for some reason.
• Urban Decay eye primer:  the new formula does not work as well as the old one for me.
• Burt's Bees Shea Butter hand cream:  it had a weird feel - I could feel it on, kind of like it did not fully absorb.  
• DHC Olive-Corn body scrub:  eh.
• Goldfadden MD Wake Up Call overnight regenerative face treat:  I'd need more time to really evaluate, but it didn't really make an impression one way or the other.
• Goldfadden MD Vital Boost even skintone daily moisturizer:  ditto.

 

Items that got thrown away because they were poor performers were:

• Lorac Special Effects mascara and primer:  lackluster in every sense of the word.
• Bare Minerals Flawless Definition mascara:  smudges on me.

Another month down and lots used up!

NOTD: Epidote by JINsoon

The polishes in the JINsoon Tibi collection are named after the minerals that inspired them, and epidote crystals are characteristically green in color.  The polish Epidote, however, reminds me of the poison apple from Snow White, or better yet, the tree that it grew from.  Perhaps my imagination is a bit out there, but this morpher changes with the light from shades of rust to emerald, and I envision a pulsating apple that is just inviting you to take a bite.  At your own risk, of course.

Because there is a poison apple tree.  It's called Manchineel, or "little apple of death", and it's one of the most poisonous trees in the world.  If you stand under this tree while it's raining, your skin will blister.  The smoke from a burning Manchineel tree can cause blindness.  The Carib used the sap to poison the tips of their arrows and would tie unfortunate prisoners to the tree, ensuring a slow and painful death.

Epidote is a beauty, and I'm again impressed with JINsoon polish quality and wear time.  I used two coats with a base and top coat, and application was problem free.  I wore Epidote for 5 days and had some tip wear but no chipping. 

I'm thinking Epidote is a great color for fall and Halloween, what say you?

Linking up with The Nail Files hosted by Well Shut the Front Door!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light

If you've ever tried to take photos of yourself or others, you know that good lighting makes all the difference in the world.  I've learned through trial and error that standing in certain parts of my yard to take pictures for the blog give me pictures that realistically reflect my skin tone and give me a glowing quality, whereas in other parts of the yard I'll look washed out or 10 years older.  It all has to do with lighting!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders attempt to mimic the type of settings that typically give us the best photos, such as the warm glow of a sunset or the mystery of a shadowy bar.  Yes, I'm at the age where dim lighting is preferable, so it's probably no mistake that the first Ambient Lighting powder I purchased is called Dim Light.  I'm not kidding about the shadowy bar part, as here is what photographer Elise Dumontet had to say in The Glossy/Sephora:

THE SCENARIO: SHADOWY BAR
TRY: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light
WHY: “This peachy-beige light is very flattering,” Dumontet says. “Details like pores and fine lines become altered and softened because light is coming from all angles.”

Ambient Lighting Powders are one of those products that are difficult to capture in photos, as the effects are meant to enhance your skin and are thereby somewhat subtle.  If you enlarge the swatch photo below, you can see how Dim Light provides a touch of color and a soft glow. 

I always use powder to set my foundation and prolong it's wear, as I've got oily skin and all the challenges that can come with it.  My usual setting powder has been Lancome's Dual Finish Powder Foundation, as it does a good job of mattifying and setting liquid foundation.  So how are the Ambient Lighting Powders different from any other powder?  At $45 each, I think that's a fair question, and one I asked myself prior to purchasing. 

Unlike traditional powders, which merely cloak imperfections, Ambient Lighting Powder utilizes photoluminescent technology to filter out harsh light and refine the appearance of the complexion. The powders deliver a multidimensional luminescence to every skintone, making it appear softer, younger, and lit-from-within. The finishing powders enhance skin in any type of light, including flash photography. (Source:  Sephora)

I think the difference is subtle but there.  All I can say is I've purchased another Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light, so I'm putting my money behind them.  I like the finish they give my skin, although I'm not sure they are better at controlling oil than any other powder.  It's a fine line between controlling oil and yet not mattifying skin to the point that it looks mask like, and I like the slight glow I get with the Ambient Lighting Powders!

I'm using my Le Metier de Beaute kabuki brush (love that thing) to apply and it is working great, so I don't think you necessarily need to invest the $35 in the Ambient Powder Brush.  Any dense brush would probably work just fine.  I only need to lightly touch the brush to pan to pick up powder, so I do think these will last a very long time.

L'Oreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation in Sand Beige

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary sample from SheSpeaks/L'Oreal Paris.  All opinions are my own. 

L'Oreal's new liquid to powder foundation is supposed to be so amazingly lightweight that it is like wearing no makeup at all.  Available in 12 shades, I chose Sand Beige sight unseen, and was super fortunate that was the exact right color for me.  So let's see how it performs, shall we?










I usually apply my foundation with a brush, so that's how I started with Magic Nude.  The consistency of this foundation is a runny liquid, so after shaking vigorously I poured a bit from the square glass bottle into my application tray.  You definitely don't want to drop this baby, as it will shatter and you will have foundation everywhere.  While I like the heft of glass, I'm thinking plastic would have been a safer choice.  The open of the bottle is just big enough to put your finger over.

The first thing I noticed was that Magic Nude was quite noticeably settling in my pores, even after using a facial primer.  I continued with the brush for overall coverage, but then switched to a damp Beauty Blender sponge to smooth out the foundation.  This actually worked fairly well, although it was still not as flawless looking as I would have preferred.  Of course, it would have helped if I'd read the entire label, as it does indicate applying with fingers is the best method.  So, the next day I used my fingers to apply, but it still requires a fair amount of smoothing to keep it out of my pores, and I think I liked the results of the brush then damp beauter blender method better. 

Magic Nude Sand Beige (outside lighting)

On the plus side, Magic Nude works well with my oily skin.  I suspected it would, as liquid to powder foundations seem ideal for those of us that are oil gushers.  With some foundations I have to blot soon after applying, but I wasn't seeing much sheen so did not feel the need break out the blotting sheets.  I did set Magic Nude with a finishing powder (Hourglass's Ambient Powder in Dim Light), but I do that with all liquid foundations. 

Magic Nude Sand Beige (inside, natural light)

The end result looks pretty good!  My skin is far from flawless, and I'd say Magic Nude gives sheer to medium coverage with a light weight feel.  I'm most impressed with how well Sand Beige worked on my skin tone - I really can't tell a difference from my face to neck.  Magic Nude wore well on me and did seem to control oil better than many other foundations I've tried, further reinforcing my belief that the liquid to powder formula is ideal for oily skin.  I see alcohol fairly high on the ingredient list, so that could be another reason why it's working well with my skin (seriously, I'm an oil factory).  I also like that Magic Nude  contains SPF 18, although a separate sun screen would still be necessary for full protection.

On the down side are the lack of any skin enhancing ingredients and the extra attention I had to give in order to keep the foundation from settling into my pores.  I'm not sure this is the easiest foundation to work with, but I can't argue with the final result, so there ya go.   

I've heard that Magic Nude ($12.95)is supposed to be the affordable alternative to Giorgio Armani's Maestro Fusion Foundation ($63), and given that L'Oreal Paris is Armani's parent company, that could well be true.  I've not tried the Maestro foundation so can't say for sure, but thought I'd compare ingredients: 

Octinoxate 3% Other: Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Isododecane, Alcohol Denat, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Nelumbium Speciosum Extract/Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Limonene, Synthetic Fluorphelogopite, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Propylene Carbonate, Caprilyic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum / Fragrance, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil / Bitter Orange Flower Oil, Aqua / Water, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hexyl Cinnamal. May contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides

It looks like the ingredients of Magic Nude and the Maestro Fusion foundations are similar, with Magic Nude lacking those in the lower half of Maestro.  Not being a cosmetic chemist, I have no idea what the additional ingredients in Maestro are for.  Interesting!  I'd love to hear from anyone who has tried both to see how they compare. 

The Wild Horses Palette by Chantecaille Beauté

The Wild Horses Palette by Chantecaille is a thing of beauty.  I wasn't really sure what to expect as this was my first foray into this prestige brand, but I can say I haven't been disappointed.  For those not familiar with Chantecaille Beauté, it's a luxury brand with an emphasis on plant-based formulas to help reduce the aging effects of inflammation on the different layers of the skin.  This is done by employing advanced technologies alongside centuries-old traditions in skincare such as biotechnology, Chinese medicine, aromatherapy and European flower pharmacology.

You will be paying a bit more for all this goodness, and the limited edition Wild Horses palette costs $83.  If you break that down it's $20.75 for each of the 3 eye shadows and the single blush, which is less expensive than the $30 for a single eyeshadow ($25 for a refill pan).   Okay, I'm now psychologically at peace with the price, as at heart I'm a value shopper :-) 

Ultimately, however, it all boils down to "do I love it?" and yes, I do.  This is an imminently wearable palette for me and I love the colors and finish of both the shadows and the blush.  Of course, I'm a neutral color lover at heart, so that could be influencing me as well. 

Here is what Chantecaille says about Wild Horses:

• Inspired by warm earthy browns, rich neutrals and moody blacks as seen on the fall 2013 runways, this on-trend palette creates a timeless, elegant look
• The striking, yet natural palette features three eye shades, Palomino- a soft, creamy beige, Mustang- a warm chestnut brown, and Black Stallion- a midnight black liner with a whisper of shimmer
• Includes Freedom Cheek Shade, a sunset pink, for a flattering windswept-flush
• A percentage of proceeds of every Wild Horses Palette sold will be proudly donated to The Humane Society of the United States to help keep our wild horses free to roam
• Refillable, Paraben-free

Freedom, Black Stallion, Mustang, Palomino

There was some fallout when I swatched Black Stallion, but I think that was because I used a fluffy brush and it was fairly loaded with powder.  I did not notice any fallout when I wore any of the shadows and wear time over primer was a good 8-9 hours before I started seeing creasing and a bit of fading.  All of the shadows and the blush apply smoothly and are easy to blend. 

Palomino has a satin finish, Mustang is a shimmer, and Black Stallion has a faint shimmer, nothing too obvious.  The Freedom blush has a satin finish and I think the description of  "sunset pink" is spot on.  Each of the shades has an overspray on the horse head which is easily brushed off.  The color surrounding the horse head is what you actually end up with once the overspray is gone.

I grew up riding horses, mainly a Palomino quarter horse named Nugget that belonged to my grandfather.  There was also a tempermental Tennessee walker that an aunt owned, but I was scared of her.  I would spend a month each summer at my grandparents and a significant part of that time was spent at the stables either riding, washing, or grooming horses.  Such gorgeous creatures, so I'm happy to see that Chantecaille is donating a portion of the proceeds from the Wild Horses palette to The Humane Society to help keep our dwindling number of wild horses in their natural habitat.  You can see more about that in the video below.

Bottom line:  gorgeous palette, I'm glad I got it!  I purchased mine online from Space NK.