Winter Body Care:
Kiehl's Creme de Corps Moisturizer &
Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish
1/24/14

In addition to changing my facial skincare routine for cold weather, I also change my body care products. During summer months, I use a lot of fresh citrus-scented products. Colder weather calls for a thicker, more intensive moisturizer and frequent exfoliation to keep my skin soft and hydrated. Creme de Corps is one of Kiehl's best sellers, with good reason. The rich body moisturizer is enriched with Beta-Carotene, Cocoa Butter, Sesame Oil and Squalane, which helps restore our skin's moisture balance. The cream is unscented and offered in a wide array of sizes, from travel-sized options to the 1 liter pump shown below. 

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The texture is thick, but smooth. While quite rich, it's readily absorbed by the skin and only takes a few minutes to fully absorb. Unlike most body butters, application is a breeze. I find most body butters to be thick and cumbersome, and often sit on top of the skin needing to be massaged in for proper absorption. This is fine for smaller areas like feet, but who wants to waste time and money on body butter everyday? Creme de Corps provides skin the moisture it craves all winter long. For those who like the idea of a body butter, Creme de Corps offers a Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter, which has a slightly sweet scent and isn't nearly as thick as a typical body butter. 

Unlike summer months, I exfoliate my skin in the shower at least 3-4 times a week. What better pairing than Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish? Honey, Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil are key to this gentle and effective body exfoliant. It leaves skin incredibly soft and primed to receive moisturizer. 

My verdict? This is a winning combination for soft, hydrated skin all winter long. With the wide array of sizes available, it's also travel and budget friendly. Thumbs up!

Creme de Corps is available in a wide array of sizes, from a 2.5 oz. bottle for $11 to a 1 liter pump (shown above) for $75. 

Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish is available in a 2.5 fl. oz. tube for $11, or an 6.8 fl. oz. tube (shown above) for $30.

Available at Kiehl's, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. 

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.

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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.  

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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. 

La Prairie
Anti-Aging Day Cream SPF 30
8/30/13

Ah, La Prairie. Always the skincare temptress with magical formulations that actually help turn back the clock...and prevent it from jumping forward. While I use several brands, La Prairie is a staple for many reasons. Sure, many of their products are obscenely expensive. But they work! Lately I've switched my eye care exclusively to two La Prairie products (reviews soon), and have been enjoying this cream for day use. I had been using various creams and serums without SPF, and simply applied Clarins SPF 40 over my moisturizer. I reached into my cabinet of skincare goodies and busted this unopened cream out of beauty storage. I've been using La Prairie Cellular Refining Lotion as my toner, and their White Caviar Illuminating Serum, although I'm switching to the Skin Caviar Liquid Lift. I like to use the same line of serum and moisturizer, as the products are designed to work harmoniously. That said, I fell hard for this day cream. 

All La Prairie products smell heavenly, and I found the cream's light scent to be very pleasing. I found that a little cream went a long way, which is helpful since I like to extend the products to my neck and décolletage. My skin felt and appeared dewy, which I love. If you prefer a more matte look, this isn't for you. Since I don't wear foundation, I enjoy the dewy, fresh look. 

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I really enjoy the cream's smooth texture, which is very rich but easily controlled. While I'm using a light hand during summer months, I imagine I'll apply more during colder months, when I'm in colder climates, or if I simply need more moisture. It's also cooling and calming, and just really enjoyable to apply and wear. 

SPF 30 is suggested for full sun exposure, so it's definitely plenty if I'm in and out of cars and buildings. This is perfect for normal, everyday use as well as days in the sun. This cream works hard. Aside from the obvious hydration benefits, it also helps fight inflammation and free radicals, while brightening the complexion. But it doesn't stop there. It also firms, protecting the skin from damage while stimulating collagen production. A specialized protein generates new skin cells, diminishing fine lines and actively fighting off new ones from forming. All while protecting my fair, Irish skin from the sun. Very few creams can make these claims. Promoting collagen and generating new cells is necessary to undo damage, and protect the skin from future damage. 

My verdict? I'm thrilled to have rescued this cream from the bounty of beauty tucked neatly away in my bathroom cabinet. This is an incredibly reasonably priced product from this skincare heavyweight, and a great place to start if you're new to the brand. This is far and away my favorite moisturizer with real SPF protection. My skin is wrinkle free, feels hydrated on the longest of days, and looks younger and fresher than ever. What more could I ask for?

 La Prairie Anti-Aging Day Cream SPF 30 is $215 for a 1.7 oz. jar. 

Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, & Saks. 

Valmont Priority Cream
8/14/13

One of my favorite things is discovering a skincare brand I've never seen or heard of before. Barneys has been letting me down lately with "hype" brands that really only have one or two good products. I stumbled upon Valmont during a broad search for soothing and healing creams and masks on Nordstrom online (not available in-store) and through my dermatologist. I'd recently discovered some gems from Chantecaille, and was excited when I began perusing Valmont's offerings. A Swiss brand with a heritage rooted in spa-like skincare and healing, this family-owned business seamlessly blends Switzerland's natural resources with research and technology. From the company's website:

"A constant innovator, the company draws inspiration from latest cosmetic cellular findings to offer utmost anti-aging products with visible and long lasting efficacy. Patented Triple DNA, liposomed RNA and DNA, Glacial Spring Water and pure plant extracts are the key ingredients used for their unequalled hydration, regeneration and cellular reactivation properties."

What attracted me most were the hydration, regeneration and cellular reactivation properties, and that the brand seeks to constantly innovate. This is important, because cell regeneration isn't exactly an easy thing to accomplish. I want healing properties in my skincare without sacrificing anti-aging benefits. Sure, La Mer is in the game and I use and love them, but Valmont is a welcome addition. 

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I've needed highly healing and calming skincare as of late. The Chantecaille Jasmine Lily Healing Mask falls into this category, as will upcoming posts. My dermatologist highly recommends Valmont, which upped the trust factor. Since Valmont is literally only sold at a handful of spas in the U.S., through dermatologists and Nordstrom online, I was able to procure a bunch of samples from my dermatologist, as well as the lead aesthetician at the flagship Nordstrom Spa in Seattle. This helped greatly, as some of the price points (like La Mer) are quite high. 

I'd received samples of the Priority Cream on a day my face and other areas of my skin felt and looked like they was on fire, and I was in extreme discomfort. We're talking walking lobster and incredibly hot to touch. I cleansed with the White Falls Cleansing Emulsion, followed by the Vital Falls Toner, and finished by applying the Priority Cream to my face and other red and irritated skin. A little bit went a long way, as each tiny sample lasted three days. My face and body cooled immediately, and felt instantly soothed and hydrated. The consistency is lovely, managing to be light yet very hydrating. It has a very light scent, thats not at all "perfumy." The booklet I received with the samples explained that the cream immediately goes to work on microcirculation, which helps regulate (not hide) redness and inflammation. It was the first time my skin felt comfortable in over a week, aside from when I used the Chantecaille mask. But I can't wear a mask all the time, and this cream was a godsend. I immediately hopped onto nordstrom.com, and ordered several items I'd fallen in love with. If I had to choose one item, this would have been it. That's saying a lot, as everything I tried was amazing. 

My verdict? While I normally have combination skin, I've fallen into the sensitive skin category where I'll remain for awhile. For those of you with sensitive skin, rosacea, redness, radiation exposure, allergies, or sunburned skin, this is a fantastic cream. I simply can't say enough good things about it. Expect more Valmont posts soon!

Valmont Priority Cream is $195 for a 1.6 oz. jar. 

Available at Nordstrom (online only), through your dermatologist and Nordstrom spas throughout the U.S. Other spas may carry Valmont, but I'd only trust an authorized Nordstrom or Valmont Spas around the world. 

Note: there is an amazing Valmont Spa at the Plaza Athénée Hotel for those in the NYC area.

Chantecaille Healing Mask

Chantecaille
Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask
8/5/13

I became a Chantecaille fan after falling in love with their Retinol Intense Cream. I still can't get over how incredibly gentle that cream is, and had high hopes for the rest of their line. I knew any brand who managed to make a gentle and soothing Retinol cream was capable of other skincare magic. I decided to purchase the Chantecaille Anniversary Set from Nordstrom to get a better feel for their full product range, from eye creams to serums and masks. I'd read raves about their Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask, and was thrilled that a deluxe sample was included in the set. 

From the moment I began applying the mask, my skin felt cool and instantly soothed. It has a very light and pleasant scent, with rosewater as the product's base. Directions indicate to apply a generous layer twice a week for 10-20 minutes, or leave the mask on overnight as a nighttime moisturizer. Love that! I'd only left it on for about 20 minutes the first night, but was amazed how soft and bright my skin looked the following morning. I immediately ordered a full-size jar. 

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My new mask arrived last week in Chantecaille's very zen and high-end glass jar with a heavy lid that feels like polished stone. Because I wasn't already psyched enough about this product? Wow. You know how much I appreciate good design. Coincidentally, my skin was rather angry the day of the mask's arrival; my cheeks were super flushed and hot to the touch, and I was developing my monthly pimple on my chin. I washed my face, toned with my Clarins toner (alcohol-free), and generously applied the mask to my face of fire. Within minutes, the same cooling and soothing properties took effect. I decided to leave the mask on for a full hour, and as I rinsed it off I noticed that the redness and irritation had vanished, and my skin felt soft and smooth. Even my emerging monthly pimple seemed to be retreating. For those with roseacea, Chantecaille lists this as an incredibly effective treatment for daily use. Also noted for relieving sun and windburned skin, jet-lagged skin, and pretty much any form of irritation. 

Last night I decided to use the mask as my nightly moisturizer since my skin has been so irritated lately. Allergies, medications, and any sort of imbalance can do a number on me and my poor skin. I sleep on a silk pillowcase so I don't get creases on my eye area, and because silk also helps your skin and hair retain moisture. I'm happy to report that I awoke without a sign of irritation and with outstanding hydration. I don't foresee myself being without my healing mask anytime soon. 

My verdict? This dual-purpose healing mask and calming night cream is like nothing I've ever tried in any price range. Applying a generous layer doesn't actually take long and uses much less product than I originally thought, making it last at least a month if used twice a week. Worth every penny, and then some. My skin loves this as both a mask and a calming night cream. Win/win. 

Chantecaille Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask is $79 for a 1.7 oz. jar. 

Available at Neiman Marcus, Barneys, & Bergdorf Goodman. 

Travel-size Beauty

Travel-size Beauty
7/24/13

Whether it's a summer vacation or business travel, mini toiletries can be a woman's best friend- or a space-consuming, leaky nightmare. After many years of travel for both business and pleasure, I've learned a lot of tricks as well as some lessons the hard way. I've already revealed my quart-size Ziploc carry-on bag, which contains several items I don't need duplicates of, like rollerball perfume, eye cream, and lip balm. But what about all the other items, from the shower to styling your hair? I've had one too many mishaps with generic toiletry containers, so they're dead to me. 

Stores like Sephora make a killing off of travel-size items, with little value. It's taken me years to figure out the beauty of store samples, and which stores and brands offer the types of items I like to use. Kiehl's is incredibly generous with samples, particularly if you make a purchase (even small). I live for their deluxe-size shampoo, conditioner, and body wash samples. Many higher-end beauty brands like La Mer and La Prairie are quick to offer samples, since testing pricey products can eventually lead to a purchase of full-size items. Never order higher-end brands online, or you'll miss out on all the potential samples. They'll even make samples for you if they're out of what you want, and trust me when I tell you that their containers are far better than generic drugstore ones.

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One commonly overlooked travel savior is the Gift With Purchase or GWP. Half the reason I love the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is for the beauty sets, often complete with deluxe size GWPs. Both facial cleansers (Chantecaille and La Prairie), the La Prairie toner, and my La Mer samples (half of them, anyway) shown in the photo above were all GWPs that came with their respective beauty sets. It's a win/win if you already use the brands. Another place to score travel-size or deluxe size toiletries is hotels, of course. Heck yeah I take my daily Kiehl's supply when I stay at the Soho Grand, for instance. High-end hotels have high-end amenities, and you're paying a premium to stay there. Even mid-range hotels are offering nicer toiletries these days like Molton Brown and L'Occitane. If you're paying, it's hardly stealing. I've often had housekeeping leave extras in my room without asking for them. A tip helps!

I always like to bring a facial mask with me to rehydrate my skin after a long flight, and NARS Aqua Gel Luminous Mask is a reasonable size with a trusty closure. For my locks, I rely on my mini bottle of Moroccanoil that I refill from my full-size bottle, and blow dry shampoo to get the most out of my blowouts. Pretty much everything else is in my carry-on Ziploc. Then there's makeup, of course...but that's an entirely different bag. ;)

My verdict? You can never have too many travel-size favorites, no matter what the brand. And never, ever trust those empty plastic bottles they sell at drugstores or pack nail polish in your suitcase. Yes, that happened. 

Safe travels!

Moisturizer - Chantecaille

Chantecaille Retinol Intense Cream
7/11/13

I've had a couple of bad experiences with Retinol, but I've had great success with other Chantecaille skincare products and decided to give this cream a try. When the word Retinol was uttered, I used to cringe. I'd tried both an eye cream and another face cream containing the anti-aging ingredient and had visibly poor results, with one lone product being a happy exception. My skin became red and just didn't agree with the products. I'd just about written off Retinol until I saw that Chantecaille had a Retinol cream with excellent reviews. I've found the line to be gentle overall, so they'd already established my trust. Retinol has so many amazing and highly-coveted benefits, from warding off wrinkles to banishing breakouts, tightening pores and improving skin texture, I couldn't say goodbye.

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Since Chantecaille categorizes this as a nighttime treatment, I knew I'd have less irritation. Many age-fighting products containing ingredients like Vitamin C and Retinol have adverse effects on my skin in daylight. The idea that a night cream could not only clear up but also banish acne is refreshing. Once again, I must reiterate my love of all products working their magic while we sleep, when our body naturally goes into healing mode. After reading many an article about how Retinol loses its effectiveness over time, I decided to use it 3 nights a week, and continue using La Mer on alternate nights. I've simply incorporated this cream into my nightly regimen as I would any night cream - as a last step. Directions indicate applying two to three pumps onto fingertips and gently pressing onto entire face and neck until fully absorbed, careful not to tug at or pull skin. Very similar to La Mer's application method. To my delight, the application area also includes the delicate under-eye area where we all need an extra boost of anti-aging benefits. 

I immediately loved the soft and smooth texture of this cream, and how my skin happily drank it up. It's practically unscented, with perhaps a very slight Pure Rosewater scent, which is the product's base. Not exactly heavily perfumed. It's also Paraben-Free, which several of my readers have indicated is important to them. Because the cream feels so light during and after application, I was thrilled that my skin remained dewy and deeply hydrated all night, and still felt soft and supple come morning. Not only have I not experienced a single adverse effect, I've noticed major improvements to my skin texture (including smaller pores), a more even skin tone, and vanishing fine lines around my eyes. They've quite literally disappeared. Granted, they were small - but who wants wrinkles?! Not I. 

My verdict? This surprisingly gentle and effective night cream has become part of my nighttime skincare regimen three times a week. I see continued improvements with each passing week, and while it's somewhat expensive, it should last about two months with use three nights weekly. The smart pump design also keeps the cream germ-free. I simply can't say enough great things about this product. 

Chantecaille Retinol Intense Cream is $110.00 for a 1.7 oz. bottle. 

Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, & Barneys.

Pedi-Ready Summer Feet

7/2/13

While summer is full of sunshine, good times, and lots of mani/pedis, it's also a time when our hands and feet take abuse from the sun and our choice of open footwear. Sure, we feel minor relief for a brief while after a mani/pedi, but our poor hands and feet are craving real moisture shortly thereafter. Since our feet are exposed to the elements now more than any other season, they need extra TLC. A couple of friends have asked for my foot care beauty recommendations, so I thought I'd create a post on the subject. 

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I have two secret weapons that I use year-round to keep my hands and feet moisturized and healthy. Neither are new products, but both are staples in my skin and body care arsenal. First up we have the cult classic L'Occitane Certified Organic Pure Shea Butter, in a classic tin. While I've touted the smaller tin for nail and cuticle care, the larger tin was designed for daily use on larger areas, making it perfect for hands & feet. Some initially find the thick, slightly waxy texture off-putting. The trick is to start with a small amount, warm between your palms and apply to dry feet. It glides on rather easily once warmed, and is incredibly hydrating. I use a generous amount of this product nightly just before I go to sleep, massaging extra onto my toes and heels. 

While the L'Occitane may be enough, I don't stop there. Another one of my all-time favorite products from Kiehl's completes my nightly hand and foot regimen. Kiehl's Intensive Treatment & Moisturizer for Dry or Callused Areas is the perfect top layer to soften rough, parched skin. It also doubles as an amazing nighttime hand cream, and does wonders for the nails. I reserve this product solely for nighttime use, as it's incredibly rich and intensive, as the name implies. 

If your feet are very dry or cracked, I recommend using extra product in both steps above, followed by wearing loose-fitting chenille (or similar) socks over your feet to bed two to three times a week. I simply lie on top of my duvet and read for about 20 minutes until both products are mostly absorbed. Come morning, my feet are soft and ready to show off in summer shoes. Since both products are so intensive, I only recommend using them at night. L'Occitane offers a Shea Butter Foot Cream which is more appropriate for day use, as is Caudalie Foot Beauty Cream.

My verdict? If you need a boost of moisture but don't have overly dry feet, you'll likely be set with Kiehl's intensive moisturizer. If you're wearing open shoes, flip flops and the like, I highly recommend the power duo above. It's a winning combination. And don't forget to exfoliate with a pumice stone if you don't let the pros do your pedis! Like most other skin treatments, your feet will benefit from overnight treatment and healing. 

- L'Occitane Certified Organic Pure Shea Butter is $40 for a 4.9 oz. tin. 

- L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream is $28 for a 5.2 oz. tube. 

- Kiehl's Intensive Treatment & Moisturizer for Dry or Callused Areas is $48 for an 8 oz. jar. 

And don't forget my favorite polishes: 
YSL & Chanel

Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer 
6/19/13

If you haven't tried any Perricone MD products, chances are you've heard of a few. I wrote a post about his magical Blue Plasma, and had high hopes for the other products. I'm currently using some other Perricone MD goodies, but today I'm sharing my experience with the Face Finishing Moisturizer or 'FFM' as brand loyalists refer to it. 

The Perricone Philosophy is costly and rigid, as we're not simply talking skincare here. There's an anti-inflammatory diet component, nutritional supplements, and skincare, of course. The diet resembles the Mediterranean diet with minor tweaks. The supplements (which he sells) run about $150 a month. Then there's the Clinical Skincare component. Needless to say, I don't subscribe to the full lifestyle. A girl needs a filet mignon, some wine, and dessert. I just jump right to the skincare component, which is focused on anti-aging products. I do take non-Perricone vitamins C, D, E, a multi-vitamin, and Nordic Naturals Omega 3-6-9. 

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While much of the line offers products for more mature skin or severe premature aging (deep-set wrinkles, sagging necklines, etc), there are several targeted at women in our 30's and early 40's with first signs of aging. That said, this product falls into that category - much like Blue Plasma and his pore treatments. The anti-aging ingredients include Alpha Lipoic Acid, DMAE, and Vitamin C Ester. 

This moisturizer offers the usual anti-aging promises, from decreased fine lines to increased radiance and hydration, and minimized pores. It's also listed as having a "delicate rose scent." I'd describe the scent as "fishy with a hint of rose." We need to accept that Perricone products are "fishy," and tolerate it in the best products. It actually fades after an hour or so. Unfortunately, this moisturizer doesn't agree with my skin. For whatever reason, the moisturizer begins to ball up and flake off which has only happened to me with 2 other products (non-Perricone eye creams). I have no idea what causes this, but it's really a bummer. It may be interacting with my Lancôme Visionnaire serum which I refuse to give up. I could tolerate the fishy/rose scent if the product would stay on! That said, your skin may take better to this product. I like that it comes with a spoon to keep the jar germ-free, and the price is reasonable in comparison to similar products. I've spoken with Dr. Perricone on several occasions and he's always happy to refund or exchange products. It's a shame, because I loved that it's lightweight, non-greasy, and the texture is cooling and soft. Very pleasant to apply. 

My verdict? Definitely a case of personal misfortune. I recommend picking up samples and giving it a try, as I believe this problem is potentially related to my other products. Perricone rocks it out with other products, so don't let my experience turn you away. I can barely remember life before Blue Plasma, and the other Perricone products I'm trying right now work, without issue. Note: all but two Perricone products are paraben-free, including those mentioned in this post. 

Perricone MD Face Finishing Mosturizer is $69 for a 2 oz. jar. 

Sephora offers a 4 oz. jar for $99.

Available at Perricone MD, Nordstrom, & Sephora. 

Crème de la Mer
5/31/13

I've never known a skincare product more iconic and coveted than this classic face cream. "Born of the sea," the tale of scientist Max Huber's chemical experiment gone awry and subsequent burning of his face lead him to research and perfect the formula that restored his skin. Twelve years and 6,000 experiments later, the world was introduced to La Mer and its Miracle Broth. A combination of sea kelp and a mixture of "pure and simple ingredients," undergo a "biofermentation process using light and sound to transform the ingredients." Say what? All I recall is needing to get my mitts on this pricey miracle jar, stat!

My first jar was purchased using parental funds during my art school years in Bergdorf's glorious beauty basement. We're talking an entire level dedicated to beauty, my friends. It's how I like to imagine heaven, should I be granted admittance. I had my eye on the prize, and watched gleefully as the beauty consultant wrapped the lovely green box in tissue paper and placed it in a little Bergdorf bag. To my delight, she also included various samples of luxurious goodies from the La Mer line! I was also given special instructions regarding application of the cream, which was certainly a first. 

After fifteen years of purchasing this cream on my own dime, I can't imagine living without it. It's quite rich, so I use it as my night cream. While even the smallest jar is rather expensive, it lasts for about three months with nightly use. It comes with a spoon applicator to keep the jar germ-free. After cleansing, toning and serum, I put a small amount (pea size) on my fingertips using the spoon, and warm the cream between my hands to activate the Miracle Broth. I then gently pat my face and neck with the cream until absorbed. It can also be used on the delicate eye area. How great is that?! I have normal/combination skin and have never broken out or experienced any adverse reactions from this product. No matter what the climate, nightly use allows your skin to soak up the moisture and other benefits without worrying about daytime use. It's so intensive that I think twice daily use would be overkill. When I awake each morning, my skin is dewy and glowing. It's my miracle jar. 

La Mer's line has expanded greatly throughout the years, and this moisturizer is also offered in "soft cream" and lotion formulations. I've used their lotion (not worth it), lip balm (to die for) and The Eye Balm Intense. I won't touch on the eye balm in this post, because it deserves a post all its own. 

My verdict? It's not just hype. This is the real deal, and will always remain a part of my nighttime regimen. 

La Mer The Moisturizing Cream is $150/1 oz., $275/2 oz., & $1900/16.4 oz.


Available at Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, & Barneys.