Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica

I imagine myself in full body armor, with my battle helmet on and my sword raised up high marching forward to battle wrinkles, lines and signs of aging.  Very dramatic you say? The multi-billion dollar beauty industry doesn’t think so.  Any woman with a jar of skin product sitting on their night stand would agree that it’s a battle and any positive result feels like pure victory.

I happen to pick up a jar of Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica few weeks ago, not knowing much about it, I read the description on the box and decided to give it a try.  I was pretty disappointed when I first applied the cream on, it was VERY thick, went on my skin like a mask but before I could kick myself for the purchase, the cream disappeared and dissolved into my skin.  GONE.  No grease, no sticky extra goo sitting on my skin…nothing!  I woke up the next morning and couldn’t help but touch my face; it was so soft and smooth.  I wanted to jump on the bed and grab my laptop and blog about it.  But this Geek thinks her followers deserve better, so not only have I tried the product for few weeks now, but I’ve done my research and have lots to clog your brains about…but not your pores!!! ;-)

 

You see, this rich re-hydrating cream was formulated for dry and dehydrated skin using a plant called Haberlea Rhodopensis that is found in Rhodopes Mountain Range in Bulgaria.  The plant is able to survive up to 31 MONTHS of extreme dehydration, even after it is completely dried out with just a drop of moisture the plant returns to its normal growth within hours and achieves full recovery in about one to two days!!!  Amazing right?
This is why they called the plant the "Resurrection Flower."  The flower is hand-harvested at full bloom to ensure efficacy.

I will spare you the scientific studies and molecular analysis that I researched about and get to the fun stuff.

What it Does:

Restores vital moisture to dry skin and remarkably corrects the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles by unveiling a firmer, denser, sleeker & younger looking complexion.

It recharges cells, delivers energy to skin, allowing cellular activity to reawaken, protects the skin from future damage.

 

My Recommendations:

If you have dry cuticles, after you’ve applied the product to your face and neck, rub some on your cuticles you’ll be amazed at the results.  ;)
Please remember this is not just a wrinkle cream but a hydrating cream, so only use if you have dry and dehydrated skin.

Use it on your neck and the back of the neck as well.

Some More Facts and Studies:

·         In young women, the skin replaces its cells every 28 days. Some studies show that by age 40, skin takes 40 days to replenish itself.

·         Because Kiehl's has added a high concentration of the Resurrection Flower to the advanced anti-aging cream its active complex has been shown to increase cell vitality and protect skin cells from future aging.

·         After using the cream, 91 percent of consumers said that their skin looked rejuvenated, while 93 percent reported that their skin felt denser and thicker.

·         Most people felt they looked five years younger after using Rosa Arctica.

 

·         The high concentration of the Resurrection Flower in Rosa Arctica also helps skin retain moisture for smoother, healthier skin while increasing cell vitality and triggering the skin's natural ability to create elastin and collagen.

 

Where to buy:Naimie's Beauty Supply

Bloomingdale's
Nordstrom

 

Prices:

1.7 oz - $60

4.2oz - $120

 

Happy Critics (to name a few):

NY Times
News USA
Vogue
Vanity Fair

 

Reference: Case study done by AgroBioInstitute (ABI) as a Centre of

Excellence in plant and animal genomics by the National

Science Fund in Bulgaria - Project DO02-105

Countdown to Midnight...

...and it's not even New Years Eve yet!
Urban Decay has announced their BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR and it begins at midnight.
No word on what's included or excluded but knowing them, it should be something worth staying up on a Sunday night ;)

I'm a HUGE fan of Urban Decay and there are few things I suggest you click for 1st before they're all gone! (if they're included in the sale)

Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Single Eye shadows
Naked (anything) - Naked Palette I and II, Naked lip gloss, Naked e/s, and their new and amazing NAKED Skin foundation.
24/7 Glide On Black liner in Zero
24/7 Glide On Black liner in Perversion
Smoked Eyeshadow palette


I do know one thing, their vintage Eyeshadows are going be to included at a special price...So get ready to do some serious damage, I am! =)

Good Luck and HAVE FUN!

Urban Decay Friend and Family Sale

It's that time of the year!
Enjoy 20% off by using the promo code: FFHOLIDAY11

*Sale DOES apply on the Naked Palette, which is knows as the best-selling product in the entire beauty industry!

Sale ends 11/5.

Happy Shopping!

Lights...Camera...Gorgeous!

As technology evolves and photography and videography become more and more advanced, it leaves the cosmetic industry running breathless trying to catch up.  What’s the correlation between the two?  Think of the new HD (High Definition) technology.  While we might enjoy watching HD television with its vibrant colors and amazing picture we forget that the film has been edited to death before airing.  When we take pictures with our HD cameras, we don’t get the privilege of an airbrushed, edited result.  What HD does is it magnifies our *every* feature good or bad.  Every pore, every skin discoloration, wrinkle and freckle hits the spotlight.  The cosmetic industry has somewhat caught up and many brands have come up with an array of products to help hide our imperfections in the HD world.

Here is a step by step guide to looking Picture Perfect!

First and foremost, start by washing your face with a cleanser.  Clean any dirt, oil or make up to start with a fresh and clean canvas.

Apply your moisturizer.  You want to stay away from moisturizers that have SPF because it reflects light when the camera flashes and you will look shinny.

Apply primers.  For the face, I recommend Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation primer and for the eyes, Urban Decay Primer Potion.

**If you have lines and wrinkles around the eye area, you can also apply fillers around the eye (MAC, Smashbox).

Apply your eye make-up.  Don’t worry about the order of what should be done 1^st.  There are no rules in make-up.  Dress the eyes, and when done, clean up any fall outs with a Q-tip.  Don’t forget to groom and fill-in your eyebrows if needed.

Apply your concealer.  Mario Dedivanovic, who is known for being Kim Kardashian's make up artist gave me his persersonal preference on how to apply a concealer.  Simply apply the concealer with a brush then blend with your ring finger. ;)  I recommend Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer, which is my favorite.


Apply Foundation.  You can use your hands, a sponge or a brush depending on what type of coverage you need.  I recommend using MAC 187 brush for lightweight application, which gives you an airbrushed look.  For the foundation, I recommend Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover foundation (comes in 25 shades!).  When applying your foundation, don’t forget your neck and ears.  You don’t want any lines and the HD camera will pick up the difference between your natural skin tone and the foundation. 

Contour, Highlight and Blush.  I might do a ‘How to” blog on this topic alone since there is so much to cover but for now, we’ll cover the basics.  You want to contour your face so when the flash hits your face it doesn’t look one dimensional and flat.  You’re pretty much creating a “shade”.  See picture below as an example of contouring and highlighting of the face depending on the shape of your face.

*Highlight your cupids bow (right above your upper lip) to give your lips a fuller look ;)

Apply Translucent Powder.  With a big face brush (MAC 134, Sigma F10 or F20), take some of the translucent powder, tap off excess and brush it all over the face and neck.  This will set your make and absorb oils that your skin naturally produces, making you shine-free.

There are so many brands that carry great translucent powders like Make Up Forever (HD),  Laura Mercier and MAC to name a few.  (Skip this step if you have dry skin)                                                  

You’re almost there!                                                                                                              

Pucker up, it’s time for the LIPS.  Prime your lips, not only will it make your lipstick last longer but your lipstick color will stay true.  If your eye make up is on the dark side, go for nude/natural colors for the lips.  If the eyes are neutral, make sure your lips and cheeks get some color so you won’t look washed out.

Gorgeous! You’re ready for your close up in HD. =)

Thanks for visiting my blog, please don’t forget to subscribe! 
XOXO

Kiehl's Friends and Family Sale

Kiehl's is having their Friends and Family sale, this happens once a year so take advantage and stock up if you're a fan of their products.

I love their 'Imperiale Repairateur Moisturizing Eye Balm'



Take 20% off your entire purchase

Use Code: FAMILY


Happy Shopping!

Urban Decay Sale on HauteLook.com

Urban Decay is back on HauteLook today!
Stock up on bold colors for the eyes, lips and face.

Sale ends 9/14
Happy Shopping!

Bronzers - Bringing Out the Goddess in You

Hi everyone, I’m so excited to be back and blogging again.  Just wanted to take the time to thank you all for your support and especially to my subscribers! =)

I’m kind of late on bringing up the bronzer topic but when you think about it, the summer has just began and the sun isn’t going anywhere for awhile.  I started grabbing different bronzers I would say even before spring had sprung and just started using them (the matte ones) for contouring.  There are so many products out there and I’m sure you know of one that I don’t happen to mention here so please feel free to comment below, I’d love to hear from you.

Before we get to the products, lets cover some basics that can be useful.

Bronzers are not meant to give you a tan, so please do not use it all over your face.  They are however meant to give you a nice “sun-kissed” look/glow.  You want to apply it in places that the sun would naturally hit, like your forehead, cheeks, jaw bone and if you’d like a little (whatever is left on the brush) on the nose.

There are different types of bronzers and different formulas.  There are matte bronzers and some with a little sheen.  Please make sure your bronzer does not have glitter in it.  Unless you’re 8 years old, it’s not going to look flattering.  I prefer the matte ones for day time and for night out the ones with a very light sheen.  There are also cream, pressed powder, mineralized, loose powder, and gel formulas out there.  I personally find the traditional pressed powder/compact formula the most easy to use.  Most of the time if I’m using a cream formula, I layer it with a powder for a longer staying power.

If your skin is already dark, you can definitely use a bronzer; just make sure the bronzer is about 2 shades darker than your skin.  If it’s too close to the skin you won’t see any pay off and it might even look odd.  The color of your hair plays a big role as well when you’re considering which bronzer to get.  Just stop by the Guerlain counter and you’ll see what I mean.  They have their bronzers sectioned by hair color then sorted by skin tone.  Love them!

Application:
Use a big fluffy brush (MAC 134, 168 or Sigma F10, F40) for powder formulas and a stippling (duo fiber) brush (MAC 187 or Sigma F50) for the cream/gel.  I would also highly recommend using the one and only BeautyBlender (http://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=beautyblender) which I’m now obsessed with after being a skeptic when it just came out.

My Favorite bronzers:

5. Benefit – “Hoola”
   These are called “Box - o - Powders” which I find are cheesy and not the best to travel with.  The product inside on the other hand makes up for the “box”.  It’s matte and it blends perfectly.
   
   

4. NARS – “Laguna” (light skin) or “Casino” (darker skin)
   I use Laguna and I love how it blends (no streaks or blotches) and stays put for hours.  It’s a true brown-based bronzer with a gold shimmer fusion that's excellent for creating or enhancing the look of healthy, glowing skin.
   
   

3. NARS – The Multiple in “Laguna”
   It’s the all-in-one, cream-to-powder, multipurpose makeup stick.  You can use it on your lips, on your lids and of course on your face as a bronzer. Blend, blend, blend.  The stick can only draw you the line, you need to blend it out.  You can also grab the product with a brush instead of applying it directly to your face.

2. Tarte – Mineral Powder Bronzer in “Park Avenue Princess”
   As much as I hate Tarte products, I happen to like their blushes/bronzers.  That’s why you’ll never see me stick to one brand for all my make up needs.

Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer is an oil-, talc- and fragrance-free bronzer that fuses earthly minerals with naturally derived ingredients for a finish that's pure perfection.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:

- Parabens

- Sulfates

- Synthetic Fragrances

- Petro-Chemicals

- Phthalates

What else you need to know:

This bronzer contains ingredients like vitamins A and E, which act as antioxidants to fight free radical damage and mineral pigments that are known for their soothing and softening properties. Dermatologist-tested.

      1.   Guerlain - Terracotta Bronzing Powder
            A long-lasting, moisturizing bronzing powder.

What it does:

Whether dark or fair, blonde or brunette, there is a shade that’s perfect for your complexion.  Its unique texture has always been Guerlain's best-kept secret.  It leaves no lines or marks, only a natural, radiant luminous skin.  Its formula enriched with moisturizing ingredients doesn't dry out the skin and ensures long-lasting comfort.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:

- Sulfates

- Phthalates

- GMOs

- Triclosan

Extra - Extra! 
M.A.C. – “Harmony”
While it can be used as a bronzer, I love using Harmony to contour.  It’s matte and the perfect shade of brown to give you that sculpted look.  If you weren’t born with perfect high cheekbones like Halle Berry, no problem even she depends on bronzers and contouring to give her that sun kissed, chiseled look ;).