Holiday Purchases

Some of my purchases while I was holidaying, most skincare items are brought in duty free……

La Mer The Whitening Essence Intense

The 1st post for VimS’s new feature – Treatment Thursday. I will post the reviews of treatment products worth featuring in great details here on a Thursday.

A unique product featuring La Mer legendary Miracle Broth ™, capturing the essence of the unique Smoothing Ferment ™, powerful Triple Whitening Trio ™ and the innovative Youth Ferment ™ – specially formulated for Asian skin to help lift away all veils of discoloration, infuse skin with hydration and visibly firm & define contour.

It’s an all-in-one whitening, moisturizing and anti-ageing product. This powerhouse serum corrects and unifies uneven skin tone from its innermost layers to create a luminous skin & unprecedented radiant glow. It also helps to lighten pigmentation and minimize pores for a smooth, flawless complexion.

La Mer harnessed the healing and transformative powers of the deep sea to create a lightweight and easy-to-apply formula that does more than the generic skin whitening – “ Our scientists have discovered that we cannot achieve the spotless luminosity of youthful-looking skin by targeting pigmentation alone, ”  “ We must also address the multiple veils of discoloration, dryness, and skin sagging as well. “

This pioneering trident approach to skin whitening leads to the combination of La Mer’s legendary Miracle Broth with the exclusive Smoothing Ferment, the ultra-potent Whitening Trio, and the innovative Youth Ferment into a miracle product.

Skin discoloration has 3 components – Gray spots due to rough and dull skin as well as enlarged pores; Inflammation and skin sensitivity due to environmental irritants bring about redness; Brown spots caused by aging and melasma. Each of these discolorations is targeted by the powerful healing components of The Whitening Essence Intense.

The Smoothing Ferment, charged in part by an active brown algae called Laminaria Saccharina, speeds up the skin’s natural exfoliation process to help lift off that gray dullness that lends a tired and rough outlook to the face; Skin is left looking clearer & more refined, with less visible pores.

To combat redness, the healing properties of the seaborne elixir Miracle Broth is further enhanced by the anti-oxidant properties of lime tea extract, which soothes the skin from irritants and protects it from future signs of irritation.

For those stubborn brown spots, the Whitening Trio formula helps dissolve dense melanin clusters. This trio formula, a combination of the White Nutrient Ferment, Concentrated Vibra White Ferment & Concentrated White Algae Ferment, works in synergy with the Miracle Broth to inhibit the excess production of melanin and to intercept the skin’s multiple melanin pathways, preventing future discoloration.

Once discoloration has been lifted to reveal the purer, brighter skin underneath, The Whitening Essence Intense then works to hydrate the skin, once again with La Mer’s signature Miracle Broth.

Dryness in the skin is alleviated by hyaluronic acid. The Whitening Essence Intense also firms the complexion up with the potent powers of the Youth Ferment & Miracle Broth. These ferments boost collagen production of the skin, thus facial contours appear firmer and more defined.

Light-catching optics in the serum also create an illuminating white halo effect on the skin, achieving the ” white diamond skin ” effect.

Tempted? You should be.

Let me tell you how I got hooked onto this wonderful product. I was trying this out in duty free before my painstaking long haul flight ( yeah, almost 24 hours ) ……

I was totally amazed by the refreshing texture &  hydrating properties of Whitening Essence Intense. My skin felt so nourished & revitalized upon application, and the surprise continues. This serum was absorbed immediately, leaving a smoothed, refined & semi-matt yet luminous finish behind. It was love at first sight, but the almost £200 price tag had me hesitating.

Fast forward 24 hours – with a transit, a shower & a re-application ( Blanc de La Mer range is widely available in Asian’s Duty Free ), my complexion remains soothed, plumped & radiant, despite the jet lag & hostile cabin’s environment! I am totally a believer by then. Nothing had ever made my complexion that well behaved before.

I mean, this serum delivers an instant porcelain fine skin that is radiance infused! It’s as great as indulging your complexion with the legendary SKII cloth mask, without the hassle of dribbling & sticky residue to be massaged in.

Since I bought this, I had been using this underneath La Mer Oil Controlling lotion for almost 3 weeks, on a daily basis – This is actually very significant for a product whore like myself; It is really that great that I can’t be bothered with the rest……

Yes, La Mer Whitening Essence Intense is my HG serum & I am addicted to it.

Don’t worry, I wouldn’t stop testing out other products for the blog’s sake, but I seriously doubt that I will find a better product than this.

Photo of  WEI’s texture & consistency courtesy of beyondjealous.wordpress.com

La Mer Oil Absorbing Lotion

Oil-free, oil-absorbing, fast-penetrating; Hydrates & nourishes with a long lasting soft matte finish.

A versatile, uber light version of the legendary Crème de la Mer. This lotion is formulated with smart algae to help control excess oil & shine, not to mention La Mer trademark miraculous broth. Available in a hygiene, airless dispensing pump container.

This silky lotion may be the one, the holygrail moisturizer! After years of experimenting & searching, I think I might be ready to settle with this one……

My skin is softer and smoother and appears the best it ever has. The incredible soft matte finish lasted about 6 hours before any oily breakthrough is visible, yet my skin felt so nourished & protected. Make up also glides on flawlessly. Great product for oily / combination skin.

Totally worth the hefty price tag, IMO. The trick is to purchase the grande size in duty free.

Inflight Beauty Routine

To be precise, my Inflight beauty regime /rescue.

Sisley Eye Contour Mask – to hydrates, energizes, decongest & minimises puffiness; I saturate the cotton pads and leave it on ( underneath the sleeping eye mask / pad ) during my inflight nap.

Sisley Express Flower Gel – instant hydration boost & refreshing treatment before boarding ( only takes 3 minutes ) & landing; I call this my portable  moisture reservoir.

Lanolips 101 Oilment – comforting balm for lips & cuticles; Smooths, lubricates & plumps.

La Mer Oil Absorbing Lotion – nourishing & nutritive enough for the harsh cabin air, yet manages to keep my skin matte & refreshed despite the long haul flight across time zones ( 11 hours ! )

100 LPB Beauty Picks ( Part 1 )

My pick of the 100 greatest beauty products :

1) Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex – cult classic for a reason, think of it as an investment / insurance plan for your youthful disposition, my advice ? Start early.

2) Clinique Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector – an eraser that wipe out multitudes of ageing signs, without abrasion & invasion ( that includes your bank account as well ).

3) Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil – THE oil, absolute indulgence that helps your skin looks its best.

4) La Mer The Radiant Serum – firms, hydrates, polishes & illuminates for a bright future complexion.

5) Prevage Clarity Targeted Skin Tone Corrector – fight time & even out skin tone, in an ultra nourishing base that’s surprisingly light & pleasant.

6) Perricone Acyl Glutathione – THE iron & sewing machine, as I would call it; Nip, tuck & press your worn out skin with this wonderful cream that delivers what it promises.

7) Sisley Supremya – ultimate extravaganza; Turning back time couldn’t be more effortless & luxurious.

8) Caudalie Premier Cru – advance formulation that protects & preserves, restores & revives; Champagne treat for the complexion, cheers !

9) Snowberry Soothing Facial Massage Oil – simply gorgeous & nurturing ! Pioneering & sophisticated.

10) Lancome Genifique Youth Activator – youth preserver, totally worth its weight/reputation/buzz.

11) Chanel Le Blanc Whitening Concentrate – amazing brighteners with Tranexamic acid; Quasi-medicinal serum that leaves your complexion porcelain fine.

12) Antipodes Joyous Protein Rich Night Replenish Serum – nature’s gift, God’s send; Nourishing oil that plumps, boosts circulation & feeds the skin.

13) Sarah Chapman Skinesis Age Repair Concentrate – advance formula that incorporates exotic plant extracts & scientifically developed molecules. Simply divine.

14) Dr Sebagh Supreme Maintenance Youth Serum – facial resuscitation for rich bitches.

15) GlamGlow Tingling Exfoliating Mud Mask – you’ll need to use this to appreciate why Hollywood loves it. This volcanic pumice endowed mask rocks !

16) Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask – draws & purifies, revives & remineralises.

17) Sisley Express Flower Gel – flower dews that rehydrates & refresh in a flash.

18) Eve Lom Rescue Mask – powerhouse astringent that cleans, renews & awakes the complexion; Emergencies essential.

19) La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50 – weightless yet almighty when it comes to sun protection.

20) Hampton Sun Super Hydrating Face Cream SPF 15 – best scented ( or should I say unscented? ) sunscreen ever; Double up effectively as a moisturiser. Super hydrating, as its name implies.

21) Lierac Dioptilisse Lifting – decongests, firms, lifts & conceals. Morning must haves.

22) Estee Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator – brightens & revives; Stimulating application/delivery methods.

23) La Mer The Eye Balm Intense – easily the best nourishing eye cream ever created.

24) Sisley Eye Contour Mask – multi-purpose treatment mask for the eyes. THE eye rescue, IMO.

25) Lancome Bi-Facil – best eye cleanser that removes long lasting, waterproof makeup; Gentle & efficient.

To be continue……

La Mer World Ocean Day

 

 

Definitely a collector item; Especially if you’re an avid La Mer fan.

This cream is actually worth its hype, if you use the correct method & technique to apply it – My winter skin saver.

Yes, I am a huge fan of this dense, nurturing cream, not the other versions such as gel-cream or lotion.

The original is the best.

 

Fresh Face

My bare face essentials:

1) Purifying mask, like Eve Lom  Rescue Mask ( doubles up as an exfoliator ), followed by  hydrating ritual, such as SK II Facial Mask. ( saturates skin with moisture & nutrients till it looks plumped & glowing )

2) A multi-tasking serum; Hello! Guerlain Midnight Star Radiance Treatment.

3) Toning, brightening & decongesting eye gel. My favourite is La Mer Eye Concentrate.

4) Thick layer of nourishing, breathe freshening lip balm; Eve Lom Kiss Mix is yet to be superseded.

What’s you secret weapons for fresh face beauty?

LPB 2010 Beauty Best Buy ( 1 )

My selection of outstanding beauty products. The winner is the one listed next to the category. Few highly recommended products that make their way to the selection pool are listed after the winning product.

Products launched in 2010 are highlighted in green.

Make Up Remover – Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing oil, a gentle, anti-oxidant and vitamin-rich cleansing oil that effectively removes grime and make-up without aggravation, and rinses away easily with tepid water. Its exhilarating aroma makes it my favourite make up removal.

Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser comes second due to its slightly astringent/clinical aroma & requires more effort when it comes to rinsing, in fact, I still prefect to use a muslin cloth to remove this otherwise superb cleansing & detoxifying paste.

Cleanser – Shiseido Revital Cleansing Foam, enriched with amino acids & hyaluronic acids; This ultra foamy cleanser purifies thoroughly yet gently.

Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Cleansing foam comes close, with it’s clarifying & brightening action, but can be a bit drying compared to Revital.

Toner – Sisley Phyto Blanc Lightening Toning lotion, freshens, tones & brighten the complexion; Leaves skin toned & hydrated with whitening botanical extracts.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Tonic is a skin conditioning tonic that restores and balances skin, leaving it soft, soothed and perfectly prepared for the treatment products to follow. It’s enriched with mineral water, cucumber, chamomile, licorice, aloe leaf, lavender & Vitamin B5; Very concise & basic, yet effective.

Origins Dr Weil Mega Mushroom Treatment lotion is great for sensitised, inflamed skin with its calming, soothing & hydrating actions, but could leaves skin slightly greasy and has a distinctive aroma.

Serum – Nude Advanced Cellular Renewal serum, restructures, repair & protects skin; Simply fabulous with a light yet nourishing texture that leaves skin nurtured & radiant.

Sisley Sisleya Radiance Anti-Aging Concentrate & Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Serum have almost identical texture & delivers similar results, but come with extravagant price tags. Sisleya Radiance does has the additional brightening effect & Abeille Royale smells gorgeous & leaves skin velvety soft.

Facial Oil – Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial treatment, this silky oil lifts & perfects the skin, whilst encouraging a healthy glow, leaving skin refreshed, toned and radiant.

Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face oil is equally heavenly in terms of aroma & finishes. Pure natures delight!

Antipodes Joyous Night Replenish Serum is more affordable yet as effective. It contains a concentrated extract from the vibrant Himalayan Goji Berry, enriched with proteins; and a base of super fruit oils such as red raspberry seed and blackcurrant, both high in essential fatty acids.

Moisturiser – Lierac Premium Wrinkle-Filling Nutrition Cream, a nourishing cream with hyaluronic acid solution, 5% B-Relaxor Complex® and the rare luxury of black flower extracts ( black rose, black orchid and black poppy oil ); This cream is simply divine to use!

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Intense Night Cream, a concentrated night cream that boosts skin’s ability to recharge and rehydrate, plumps fine lines and improves skin tone and texture. White Birch extract maintains elastin and promotes skin repair; Shea Butter, Jojoba, Olive, Sweet Almond and Apricot Oils soften and comfort skin; Protein Activator helps promote natural collagen production; Rice Bran extract and Apple extract even skin tone; Green Tea and Vitamin E provide antioxidant protection. A marvellous moisturiser.

Nubo Cell Dynamic Overnight Recharge Totale, a cosmeceutical-strength formulation without controversial chemical ingredients that converts free radicals ( waste by-product from skin cells metabolism ) into oxygen, thus stimulates cell renewal. This buttery soft cream envelops skin with extreme nutrition & hydration.

Eye Treatment – La Mer Eye Balm Intense, a luxury eye cream that pampers your eyes like no others; A groundbreaking treatment for ageless eyes.

Lierac Dioptilisse Ultra Firming eye care, instantly lift and firm the eye contour area while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. This fresh serum provides immediate plumping benefits, giving an instant boost to slackening skin around the eyes; It also improves makeup hold when applied as a base.

Sisley Eye Contour Mask, an anti-fatigue, anti dark circles & puffiness, hydrating, firming eye mask that performs brilliantly. This multi-tasker is actually a bargain consider its benefits.

Lip Treatment – By Terry Baume de Rose,  a rejuvenating, reparative, strengthening, nourishing and anti-ageing treatment that enhances the voluptuousness of the lips and leaves them radiant; It has high concentration of lipid-building substances and essential rose wax.

Chanel Hydramax + Active Nutrition Lip care, a hydrating & refreshing lip balm that instantly melts into the lips, making them feeling soft & supple, without a hint of stickiness or waxiness.

Mask – Ila Face Mask for Revitalising skin, an organic mud rich in purifying green clay, detoxifying minerals and healing Himalayan salt crystals; It also contains essential fatty acids and oils ( Argan, Rosehip seed, Rosa Damascena) to nourish and replenish the skin. This is the winner as it comes in a mega tub, yet feels as luxurious & sophisticated as my other 2 favourite masks.

Chantecaille Detox Clay Mask, a soft, purifying black kaolin clay mask that firms and improves skin tone, tightens pores, improves smoothness, balances oiliness and eliminates blemishes/blackheads.

Sisley Express Flower Gel hydrates, tones & firms in 5 minutes; It drenches skin with immediate moisture and effectively seals them in, leaving the complexion revived & glowing.

Sunscreen – La Roche-Posay Anthelios 45 Ultra-Light Fluid for Face, a synergistic combination of patented high efficacy sun filters and powerful anti-oxidants to further protect your skin, even at the cellular level; Feels weightless, non occlusive & has a matte finish despite it’s high protection ( with photostablized sunscreens for broad-spectrum and longer lasting protection ) & waterproof formulation.

Clinique Sun SPF 50 Face Cream, SolarSmart technology stabilizes high-level protection against UVA and UVB rays; Triggers a repair that helps prevent signs of aging, with solar-activated antioxidants that help prevent visible damage. Gentle enough for sensitive skins.

La Mer Eye Balm Intense

The new Marine De-Puff Ferment™, The Lifting Ferment™ and a potent concentration of The Miracle Broth™ – the seaborne elixir known for its healing energies – penetrate deep within the skin’s surface for a remarkable change, while the unique balm texture offers the utmost in comfort.

In a short while, the look of puffiness, lines and wrinkles is diminished as clarity is revealed. La Mer’s proprietary silver-tipped applicator cools skin on contact to help stimulate mircocirculation.

Strengthened against future damage, the eye area emerges visibly transformed – infused with a look of vibrancy, life and youth.

La Mer Eye Balm Intense is an intensive cream gel that instantly revives  my fatigue eyes, de-puffs my bags & un-wrinkles those annoying dry lines & expression lines around my eyes. Unlike most nourishing eye cream, this balm feels light & refreshing, absorbed quickly and leaves no greasy residues. It also facilitates concealer & eye make up application.

I tried the sample for 2 weeks, I am so impressed by this and bought myself the full size jar. I apply this with the silver tip applicator, which enhances the potency & penetration of this miracle broth. It’s not mean to be used to tackle dark circles; For dark shadows banishing, La Mer Eye Concentrate is the choice.

I had yet to come across a better eye balm/cream/gel since …… ( I don’t even remember when was the last time an eye product managed to impress me! )

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Beauty Treat

As the popularity of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has spread, so have the pink products that flood store shelves in support of the cause. Women ( and  men who love them ) should have compelling first-hand reasons for wanting to raise funds for the second leading cause of cancer death in women today.

These are the products you could treat yourself this October, for the sake of retail therapy cancer research……

Go on, be gorgeous for a cause; Support breast cancer awareness & research……

I had so far treated myself with Darphin Intral Soothing cream, Moroccanoil LE tote bag set, Jo Malone Red Roses EDT; Planning of getting Shiseido luminizing gloss in Pop Life & Clinique Dramatically Different moisturising gel.

What about you? Even a bottle of mineral water in your local supermarket contributes; Every little helps! ( Opp, so Tesco )