La Prairie
Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex
9/30/13

Few skincare products actually provide immediate, jaw-dropping results. I did expect results over time, since the La Prairie Skin Caviar line has yet to disappoint. I'd read and heard that this product was a must-have, and of course I was happy to give it a whirl. I'm intrigued by eye serums, and noticed there are very few products you can apply to the delicate eyelid area. Until I started using this serum, I used various eye creams on my eye area but only Clarins  Eye Contour Gel on my eyelids since it was a listed usage. So sure, I had that eye gel and the Chantecaille Vital Essence Serum, but was unsure what to expect from an actual eye serum. Oh. My. Goodness. 

The tiny bottle is in keeping with the rest of the Skin Caviar line, with blue glass and a silver top. The bottle is small, at 0.5 oz. I immediately noticed the slight transparency which I love, since I can tell when I'm running low. I tried it for the first time at night, applying tiny dots under the eye, between the exterior corner of the eye and the hairline, on the eyelid, and a long drop/line between the brows. I repeated this process on the other eye, and gently began to pat the serum into my skin. It absorbs rather quickly, but I loved the amount of control I had over the amount the dropper dispensed. The consistency is light but thick enough to stay put until I'm ready to smooth over each area. 

(click photo to enlarge)

I quite literally couldn't believe my eyes. My eye area was immediately toned and taut, firmed and smoothed. Fortunately I don't suffer from under-eye puffiness, but I can only imagine the miracles this product would work for that. My eyelids were smooth yet firmed, and the tiny fine lines in the outer corners and underneath my eye area were gone. They vanished before my eyes, no pun intended. I finished with the Cellular Eye Contour Cream, and hit the sack. 

Come morning, my eye area still looked like I'd had an eye lift- in a good way. I reapplied the serum after my shower and morning skincare regimen, and experienced the same mind-blowing results. I use a lighter eye cream during the day, and the results lasted well into the night. You can really use any high-quality eye cream you like over this serum. It made my eye makeup application much easier, almost acting like a primer. My eyes reflect the light, but more importantly the serum WORKS. It's not just smoke and mirrors. 

My verdict? I can't believe I didn't know about this miracle serum sooner. Skincare is my thing, and anything that helps keep my skin in tiptop shape without needing to mask it with foundation or powder makes me happy. Botox in a bottle? Well, I certainly won't need that help with fine lines or wrinkles anytime soon. Anything that can make me look younger, more refreshed and alert without medical intervention is a gift. I won't be going without this serum! Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Lift Cream (recommended accompanying eye cream) is next. Results to follow soon!

La Prairie Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex is $135 for a 0.5 oz. bottle. 

Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. 

La Prairie
Skin Caviar Luxe Cream
9/26/13

A longtime cult favorite, this luxury moisturizer graces the vanities of everyone from celebrities to skincare fanatics, and the Skin Caviar line remains beloved by many, with the Skin Caviar Luxe Cream having recently celebrated 25 years. My first experience with La Prairie was due to my generous and well-heeled sister, who'd come out to Portland for a visit after I'd just moved west and landed my first job as a Jr. Designer at adidas in 1999. I lived on ramen and PB&J back then, so her visits were always a welcome treat. We found ourselves at Saks one afternoon, and I found myself wanting everything on the La Prairie counter. She took direct aim, had the saleswoman gather up her bounty of beauty purchases, including my first La Prairie product. I applied that eye cream as though it were the last jar on earth; sparingly and with great care. I remember how hard it was to go back to anything else after such a luxurious product. Warning: this product has the same effect. 

As my career progressed I started using Crème de la Mer, which was the holy grail of moisturizers to me. I still adore that cream, and use it frequently during cooler weather. That said, I recently fully reacquainted myself with the magic that is La Prairie and can't imagine giving up my Skin Caviar Luxe Cream. From the classic blue jar and silver top to the embossed silver spoon, no expense was spared on packaging. Once inside you'll find one of the richest, most luxurious creams on the market. No, it doesn't smell like caviar or fish. It smells quite pleasant, with a delicate scent that mostly dissipates after application.

(click photo to enlarge)

The texture is creamy and thick, with a little going a long way. This isn't for those seeking a matte look, but creates a perfect and natural dewy glow. It screams healthy skin, which I love. The amount shown above on the spoon covers my face, neck and décolleté. Here are key benefits, directly from La Prairie:

• Drenches the skin with intensive moisture and nourishment

• Delivers concentrated firming agents to help stimulate collagen production

• Reinforces the skin’s vitality and enhances its natural anti-fatigue factor

• Smoothes and retexturizes skin’s surface with targeted Alpha Hydroxy Acid exfoliation

Since Caviar Extract is rich in protein, it transforms the texture of skin while providing serious hydration and making skin feel incredibly smooth and silky. I tried samples of this cream for a week prior to making my first purchase, and I couldn't stop touching my face and neck. Nothing had ever radically and instantaneously improved the texture of my skin the way this cream managed to. Have I mentioned the firming and improved skin elasticity? Come morning, my skin was radiant, taut and the softest it had ever been. After a single week of samples, there was no going back. My skin can be a gnarly mix of sensitive, allergy-prone and combination, and I've had nothing but positive experiences with this cream as well as other Skin Caviar products. Hurray! Since the cream is so rich, I've been using it nightly after toner and serum (and Cellular Power Infusion every three months, which deserves an entirely separate post). I clean the metal spoon with toner after use, and air dry. 

My verdict? Yes, this cult luxury cream is a major splurge. But given how little you use each application and the miraculous, immediate positive results...I can't imagine being without it. Pick up a sample at your local La Prairie counter inside upscale department stores. You won't regret it. I promise. 

La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream is $410 for a 1.7 oz jar. 

Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman. 

Chantecaille
Vital Essence Serum
8/17/13

Another post about a Chantecaille product?! I've been exploring more of the brand's offerings, and I've had some amazing finds, with one so-so product (post to follow soon). That's a pretty darn good record, I'd say. I can't imagine not using a serum twice a day. From the moment I turned 30, I embraced the power and protection of serums, thus began years of trial and error. Potent, anti-aging protection to erase fine lines and keep new ones from forming while evening the skin tone and protecting us from a plethora of scary things. While I prefer to use day and night-specific serums, this product can be used both day and night...and on the eye area. Yes, the eye area! I mean, hello lover. I reach for Chantecaille when my skin is sensitive, irritated, my allergies are bad or my skin is in need of TLC. My skin has normalized as of late, but I still experience sensitive days. While their facial moisturizers are amazing, their Flower Harmonizing Harmonizing Cream (which I love) doesn't contain any anti-aging benefits. Ack! Enter Vital Essence Serum. 

The packaging is pretty darn cool, particularly for fans of design. The white substance that spirals around seemingly suspended in the serum is actually Bifida Ferment Filtrate, a more stable and effective replacement for Vitamin C, which can be a skin irritant. It funnels up through the pump along with the rest of the serum, packed with other anti-aging ingredients with their beloved, healing Rosewater base. While the magical Bifida Ferment Filtrate helps brighten and heal the skin, seaweed helps regulate the production of sebum (a nice word for oil), an estrogen placebo derived from an array of Chinese flowers generates collagen production (we like that) while reducing fine lines and improving skin tone and elasticity. Soybean extract further restores collagen and also brightens skin.  

(click photo to enlarge)

Like all of Chantecaille's products, Vital Essence also contains antioxidants by way of olive leaf extract and grape seed oil, further softening fine lines. Inflammation and redness is soothed by Aloe Vera. That all makes for a fantastic serum. Cooler still? It doubles as a moisturizer for those with oily skin or any skin type during warmer months. Moisture is derived from from biosodium hyaluronate, a plant-based moisturizer a hundred times more hydrating than the typically used animal-derived version. That's two products in one reasonably priced, high-end serum. Another design feature I love is that the transparency not only displays the ingredients, but allows you to see how much product is left in the bottle. If you look at the bottom of the bottle shown above, you can see I'm about halfway done with this bottle. Love that! 

But how does it feel? I use about 2-3 pumps to cover my face, neck and décolletage. The serum is gel-like, with the visible Vitamin C substitute in every pump. It magically dispenses the proper amount every time, and glides over skin with ease. If it's hot outside, I simply apply an oil-free SPF over this serum. Otherwise I use the moisturizer of my choice. This serum is ideal for those in their 30's or with first signs of aging when coupled with a moisturizer that lacks anti-aging components.

My verdict? While my skincare prices range from reasonable to ridiculous, this serum is well-priced, dual-purpose and effective. Another winner from Chantecaille. 

Chantecaille Vital Essence is $108 for a 1.7 oz bottle. 

Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Barneys.