AMOREPACIFIC
Treatment Enzyme Peel

Are you still using one of those harsh exfoliators with scrubbing beads that feel like sandpaper? Well, the word is out: it's all about enzymes. I'd tried countless exfoliating scrubs from Bliss (not a good experience) to La Prairie, and settled with what I thought was the best out there. To think I was subjecting my sensitive, generally pampered skin to such cruelty is criminal. 

Now, we know I love my Chantecaille products, and their masks are among the best I've tried. Their exfoliating solution is the Fruit and Flower Acids Mask has been my go-to exfoliator – until now. Sensitive-skinned friends, we have a winner. 

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Oh my. Why the heck am I just now discovering the wondrous world of AMOREPACIFIC?! My beauty guru had been lovingly nudging me to get my feet wet with this standout Korean brand, and I started with their Treatment Enzyme Peel. Peel sounds harsh, yes? Something you get done periodically at the dermatologist or your facialist, followed by three days at home with scary red face. Fortunately, this enzyme peel dissolves dead skills without any harsh ingredients or face-reddening chemicals, readying skin for serums and moisturizers. Much like Tatcha's Enzyme Powders for cleansing, the AMOREPACIFIC bottle packaging  automatically dispenses the proper amount of product (powder) into the palm of your hand, which turns into a gentle foam when mixed with water. Simply massage on your face, neck and décolletage for a minute and rinse. It's designed to be used as often as you like. No, seriously. It's that gentle. I keep it in my shower and use it 2-3 mornings a week. My skin immediately feels transformed, from the gloriously smooth texture to the lovely glow. It's simply perfection. 

My verdict? Not only am I in love with the Treatment Enzyme Peel, but I've since tried three of their other products and am head over heels. No more scrubby beads! The best new product I've tried in at least a year. 

AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peel is $60 for a 2.7 oz. bottle. 

Available through AMOREPACIFIC, as well as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. 

Foaming Cleansers
11/4/13

The evolution of cleansers isn't surprising, as consumers expect a lot from products in an over saturated market. I use foaming cleansers on a twice-daily basis, with an exfoliant (review soon) three mornings a week after cleansing. I used cleansing milks and lotions for a long time, blindly assuming they were the most gentle. That said, I never felt like they got my face and neck completely clean - and I don't even wear foundation. I relied on toner to thoroughly clean any residue or film after cleansing. Now I use toner mainly to prepare my skin for treatments like serums and moisturizers. I've compared three different foaming cleansers at varying price points to find the best. I used each cleanser for a full month to test their efficacy, and I chose three brands whose products I use, since they've already established quality and trust. 

First up was Chantecaille, and I had high expectations given how many of their products I use and love. Chantecaille's Rice and Geranium Foaming Cleanser contains rice bran for gentle exfoliation, while geranium acts as an antibacterial. Seaweed regulates sebum production while soybean, green tea and olive leaves are supposed to naturally protect the skin from free radicals. I found that it only took a dime-sized amount to create a nice foaming lather when I rubbed my hands together and applied to a wet face. It does take awhile to fully rinse off, and my skin never felt fully "rinsed." That bugs me. It has the consistency of rice pudding, and it's hard to imagine that is sufficient exfoliation on its own. During that month I also used their Fruit & Flower Acids Mask for proper exfoliation. As far as any scent, there was none to speak of even though they mention a citrus scent. Hm. 

left to right: Chantecaille, La Prairie and NARS

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Next up was La Prairie, aka my holy grail of skincare at present. La Prairie's Foam Cleanser is true to its name. This water-activated foam in their signature light pink hue is mousse-like in texture until combined with water. It can range from near creamy to super foamy depending on how much water you mix it with. Like Chantecaille, I only need about a dime-sized amount to reach a full lather on my wet face. What I really like about this cleanser is that it doesn't take forever to rinse off, and my skin feels clean without feeling stripped of moisture. The fragrance is quite mild and pleasant. This is strictly a foaming cleanser without an exfoliation element, as La Prairie has two different products meant solely for exfoliation post cleansing. I've found this system incredibly effective, as I prefer a deep exfoliation a few times a week rather than a light daily exfoliation. 

Last but not least was NARS Purifying Foam Cleanser. NARSskin launched last year, completely revamping the brand's skincare line. NARSskin products are grounded in simplicity and are paraben-free, gluten-free, oil-free, alcohol-free and synthetic fragrance free. This cleanser gently exfoliates with botanical exfoliating spheres, while rose and peony extracts soothe skin and reduce shine. Like Chantecaille and La Prairie, a dime-sized amount lathers up a lovely foam which has a refreshing, natural orange scent and rinses off fairly easily. Formulated to prepare the face for makeup, this is a fantastic choice for women who wear foundation. 

My verdict? I bought full-sized bottles of both La Prairie and NARS, and passed on the Chantecaille cleanser. La Prairie is my runaway favorite, in conjunction with their Cellular Mineral Face Exfoliator. NARS is fantastic for travel when I want one product that does it all. Chantecaille missed the mark, but I still love many of their other products. 

La Prairie Foam Cleanser is $75 for a 4.2 oz. tube. 
NARS Purifying Foam Cleanser is $29 for a 4.9 oz. tube. 
Chantecaille Rice and Geranium Foaming Cleanser is $60 for a 2.46 oz. tube. 

All available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks. 

Tatcha
Deep Rice Enzyme Powder
6/21/13

Tatcha is one of the most interesting beauty brands I've experienced since La Mer and their 'Miracle Broth.' Don't get me wrong; these brands couldn't be more different. Tatcha's founder Victoria Tsai was born into beauty, with a family who sold traditional Asian herbal skincare treatments in the family's beauty boutique. She spent most of her career consulting for other brands, and ended up founding Tatcha after studying the beauty habits of both modern and traditional geisha. Enter modern science and Victoria's beauty biz savvy, and Tatcha was born. 

I like to peruse Barneys skincare offerings, as they tend to be the most progressive in the industry (I can thank them for introducing me to Sunday Riley, Chantecaille, Koh Gen Do, RéVive and many others). I'd also read a fair amount from trusted sources including fellow beauty addicts, the NY Times, Vogue, Bazaar, Vanity Fair, etc. but didn't know where to start. I don't believe in using a single brand's entire line, and prefer to mix and match. Fortunately, Tatcha offers 'The Tacha Samper Set,' which contains a two week supply of the main line. I also impulsively ordered the eye cream and lip balm, which aren't included in the sample set (review to follow). I was so excited when my package arrived, as I'd never used a line like this. They definitely wooed me with their design aesthetic. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous. As an Art Director, I can tell you that everything from the paper stock to the booklet and loose leaf product info cards are premium. Even the gold foiled logo is embossed on the rich purple patterned envelope. I also received handwritten notes with each shipment. Everything feels special and personal. It's a true brand experience, which I fully enjoy. 

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The first step is the Camellia Cleansing Oil. This is for makeup removal or extra hydration. I tried it twice and determined I didn't need it. It was soothing, though, and a necessary first step if you wear foundation, powder, BB creams, etc. The second step is the product I'm talking about today- the Deep Rice Enzyme Powder. The Sampler Set came with Gentle, Classic, and Deep enzyme powders. Instructions indicate to pour about 1/2 a tsp. of the enzyme powder onto wet hands, rub together until a foam forms, and massage onto face in a gentle, circular motion for 30 seconds to one minute. The foam is super gentle, and exfoliates with enzymes rather than a harshly textured exfoliating cleanser. My face literally felt squeaky clean. It's vastly different from any cleansing ritual I've ever tried, of which there are many. There are no synthetic fragrances, and it actually seems unscented. I encourage you to visit Tatcha's site to review their natural, high quality ingredients. There were other products in The Sampler, but this is the only one that truly blew me away. Although I could have ordered the Classic, I went with the Deep Enzyme Powder because its so darn gentle. It's been nearly three weeks including two with The Sampler, and my skin looks amazing. It's incredibly soft and has a new radiance and glow.

The packaging for the product is brilliant in its simplicity. After unscrewing the top, there's a slide-to-lock closure. Once you slide it open, a small opening controls the amount of product that is dispensed, so you're not faced with a handful of powder that would get wasted. Love it. There's also a travel set that comes with fourteen enzyme powder packets. For longer trips, I'd trust the container since it's basically double-sealed with the lid screwed on. 

My verdict? I fell head over heels for the Deep Rice Enzyme Powder. No exfoliating cleanser is as gentle and effective. Look to the skin of the geisha! This time-tested method of skin cleansing has won me over. More to come on other Tatcha products soon. 

- Tatcha Deep Rice Enzyme Powder is $65 for a 2.1 oz. jar. 

- Tatcha Deep Rice Enzyme Powder & Travel Set Duo is $78 for the 2.1 oz. jar & 14 packets

Available at Tatcha and Barneys. 

Lip Scrubs
6/12/13

Until about a year ago, I thought I was taking pretty darn good care of my lips. I always make sure that I have SPF on my lips when outdoors, and liberally apply good lip balm at night, well outside my lip line. I've gradually increased the quality of my balms from Dr. Hauschka, to La Mer, to Baume de Rose (which already contains SPF). I began to notice products at stores like Nordstrom specifically designed to exfoliate and "treat" the lips. To be honest, I chalked it up as yet another marketing ploy designed to empty my wallet. But after more thought and product research, it made sense. I spend considerable time exfoliating and treating my face and body, so why not my lips? Lips certainly show signs of aging in various, unflattering ways. Clearly I needed to get on this. 

I checked out products online at every price point, from Macy's to Bergdorfs. Prices ranged from reasonable to ridiculous. If you're like me and in your 30's or early 40's and don't have visible signs of aging, the only products you need bother with are lip scrub and decent lip balm. There aren't a lot of products dedicated to lip exfoliation which made finding the best product rather simple. First there's Bliss, which I immediately passed up because I didn't like the texture. It's creamy and has walnut bits in it which I suppose are meant to exfoliate? Too weird. 

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Then I saw that Fresh makes a Lip Polish and got all excited. I really like the brand, and use several fresh products. Like all of their best-selling exfoliating products, the Lip Polish utilizes brown sugar crystals to buff away dead skin, and a combination of Shea butter and jojoba oil to provide moisture to freshly polished lips. I use this 3-4 nights a week as the first step in my nightly regimen. I put a tiny amount of the dense yet gentle polish on my index finger and gently rub all over my lips and the surrounding area, particularly above my upper lip. Then I simply wipe the polish off with a warm washcloth. After I complete my nightly skincare regimen, I immediately apply my lip balm to take advantage of my freshly exfoliated lips. I really dig this product, and imagine the jar will last about six months. 

I also tried Sara Happ's 'The Lip Scrub,' which is available in an odd number of flavors and colors. The jar itself is twice the size and a mere $1.50 more than the Fresh product. I purchased the Blood Orange "flavor" and tried it out. I instantly disliked it. The texture is super chunky and application is messy. Even the plastic jar and crafty label feels cheap. Chunks of the lip scrub flew on my chin, in the sink, and I seemed to need about 5x as much product to get some actually ON my lips for more than a second. The instructions also indicate using a generous amount. I'd guess this jar would last 3 months at best. Oh, and I understand the flavors now, because it's seemingly impossible to use this product without much of it ending up in your mouth. The instructions also mention wiping away with a tissue. I used a soaked washcloth and splashed water on my face. The container above on the left is after a mere four uses. I've used the Fresh Lip Polish on the bottom right a couple dozen times. Fail. 

There are quite a few other products targeted at women who already have more advanced signs of aging and are past the preventative stage. They can get quite pricey, like ReVive Perioral Renewal Cream Targeted Line Repair for $115. Others went up to $150 (Sisley). These treatments are intended to help women with set-in vertical wrinkles and aging skin around the immediate lip area. May we never reach this point, ladies. Prevention!

My verdict? Fresh Sugar Lip Polish is a winner. It's exfoliating, moisturizing, and prevents those scary mouth and lip wrinkles. It's easy and it works. I should also mention that my lipsticks have never looked better. Smooth lips and no bleeding. Sweet!

- Fresh Sugar Lip Polish is $22.50 for a 0.6 oz. jar
- Sara Happ 'The Lip Scrub' is $24 for a 1 oz. jar

Both available at Nordstrom.