Chantecaille Detox Clay Mask
1/5/14

Happy New Year! I haven't posted in quite a while, and I'm really excited about this new discovery. I've been a fan of Chantecaille for quite some time, and I can't believe I waited so long to try their clay mask. I regularly use and love their Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask and Fruit and Flower Acids Mask. 

I'd been using Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque, and had tried other clay masks like Aēsop's Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque but was disappointed. Sure, the Kiehl's mask worked well. But like most clay masks, it left my face feeling tight and would sometimes cause some redness if left on for too long. I'd avoided Chantecaille's clay mask purely because of the color - black. I knew my expensive, soft washcloths would be stained. I read review after review in global fashion and beauty publications with raves about this product. Alas, I could resist no longer.

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The small jar and somewhat sizable price tag concerned me at first glance. After cleansing my face, I began to apply the mask. I was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly and easily it was to apply, and how far such a little amount went. It felt cooling and soothing, and didn't dry like most clay masks. It has a pleasant, spa-like scent of rosemary and other natural ingredients. I expected my face to be charcoal or black, but it actually takes on somewhat of a dark, bluish hue. I waited the instructed 10 minutes before washing it off for the first time. If you've used clay masks, you know how difficult a task it can be to remove them. This mask is completely different. Just a soft washcloth and some warm water, and the mask easily and gently washed off my skin.

About the fourth or fifth use, I realized that 30 minutes had passed and I'd forgotten to wash the mask off. Even though I exceeded the instructed time of 10 minutes, my face wasn't tight whatsoever. None of the usual hard, tight clay mask woes. I believe the honey helps keep the mask from becoming too stiff and uncomfortable. Once again, a little warm water and a soft washcloth was all it took to remove the mask. It really tightens my pores and leaves my skin soft, smooth and glowing. Because it is a purifying or detoxifying mask, any tiny underlying pimples or imperfections immediately come to the surface and are magically gone the following morning. I had certainly never experienced this level of success with any other clay mask. Having both combination and reactive/sensitive skin, this is the ideal purifying mask. Gentle and effective. 

My verdict? The best clay/purifying mask on the market. Totally worth staining one of your best washcloths for. Chantecaille did it again!

Chantecaille Detox Clay Mask with Rosemary and Honey is $78 for a 1.7oz. jar. 

Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Barneys. 

Chantecaille
Pure Rosewater
8/15/13

Having recently learned the skincare benefits of rose water, I was thrilled to gets my hands on this product. Rose water and rose oil have been used for centuries medicinally, primarily as an anti-inflammatory. Cleopatra bathed daily in rose water, swearing by the beauty benefits of the precious petals. The Queen of the Nile was known for her beauty rituals, and living in that climate was no easy feat. Rose water is a byproduct of steam distillation, the process that's used to isolate the plant's essential oils. The benefits? It stimulates skin circulation, helps maintain the skin's pH balance, tones, reduces broken capillaries, contains antioxidants, is antibacterial, and calms acne to name but a few. 

Chantecaille takes their Rosewater a step further by using the purest petals harvested by hand in Grasse, France during the month of May. The petals are then distilled during the early morning hours in artesian well water. The result? A 99.9% botanical formula. Their Rosewater is the base for all their products, and I've dabbled in the line enough to vouch for its efficacy. I had been using Evian Brumitaseurs for years, but mineral water doesn't exactly offer the benefits rose water does. 

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The bottle itself is quite lovely and delicate looking, much like the rest of Chantecaille's packaging. It's tall and slim with frosted glass on the bottom half. Modern and clean. I love that it's a pump as opposed to an aerosol, since the stream is more easily controlled and less product is wasted.

After using this product for a day, I was hooked. As I mentioned in my last post, I'm suffering from red, inflamed skin as of late. I've been seeking and using products that not only soothe my skin, but offer anti-aging benefits. I took a cue from Cleopatra who braved the Egyptian sun and have used this pure Rosewater to not only soothe and cool my inflamed skin, but have also found the product to be healing both physically and mentally. The very faint, pleasant scent is a pleasure for the senses. Upon contact, my skin and mind are relaxed and comforted. Rosewater also has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, making it a perfect toner after cleansing, and before applying my face cream. I spritz my skin throughout the day, and the instant relief has been a welcome change to often unbearable discomfort. 

My verdict? This is no ordinary bottle of water. In one week's time, Chantecaille's Rosewater has helped calm, cool, soothe, balance, cleanse and helped heal my irritated skin. It's not only getting my major thumbs up, but has quickly become a permanent part of my skincare arsenal.

Chantecaille Pure Rosewater is $62 for a 3.4 oz. bottle. 

Available at Chantecaille, Nordstrom, and Saks. 

Blotting Paper

Tatcha Original Aburatorigami
Japanese Beauty Paper

I've been a fan of Tatcha's Rice Enzyme Powders for a couple of months, and was recently surprised to see their blotting papers online at places like Sephora. This struck me as interesting, considering they quite literally only sell their skincare products in the U.S. at Barneys and on their own website. I think this was a fantastic choice for the brand to introduce themselves to a larger market. 

I've been using blotting papers for many years, with varied results. Sephora's papers were literally like rubber, made from some sort of blue plastic material in a poorly-constructed black package. Then I tried Shiseido's, but I can't stand blotting papers with powder. I was beginning to feel like I'd have to settle, and I did for many years on Sephora's Blotting Papers. While doing some research for this post, I was shocked to see that Sephora now offers three options, including a Shimmer Sheet Set (doesn't that defeat the purpose?), and two other types of sheets with "treatment" ingredients, such as tea tree oil. I don't know about you, but all I ask for in a blotting sheets is to remove any excess shine from my face. Then I found Tatcha's. 

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The Original Aburatorigami Beauty Papers were included with Tatcha's Sampler Set, which I'd purchased to get the full experience of their line. Like all their other products, the packaging design is beautiful and high quality. Made solely of Abaca leaf and gold, these incredibly thin and nearly translucent papers are a far cry from all the other blotting papers out there. I love a good story, and they deliver. These all-natural papers are powder free, fragrance free, and handmade. 

Why blotting papers? I've yet to meet a woman who enjoys a shiny face. If you wear foundation, primer, powder, or any other makeup on your face, blotting with a regular tissue will steal or mess up your makeup, moisturizer, and can leave fibers behind. Adding more powder to cover the shine creates an uneven look and can potentially clog your pores. These blotting papers remove shine while leaving your makeup intact, and without stealing your moisturizer. I don't wear any makeup aside from on my eyes and lips (and nails, of course), but I prefer my moisturizer remain on my face while removing any shine or oiliness in my t-zone. 

Using these papers is incredibly simple. Simply remove a single sheet from the cool envelope package and gently dab on any shiny areas. You can use both sides of the sheet, and discard with a good conscience since they're biodegradable. Tatcha also makes Evening Aburatorigami Beauty Papers, which are essentially smaller and darker - perfect for a clutch. 

My verdict? I can't imagine returning to the archaic blotting papers I once used, and nothing has worked as well or looked as good as Tatcha. Enjoy a shine-free summer!

- Original Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers are $15 for 30 sheets. 
- Evening Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers are $15 for 40 sheets.
- Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers Duo is $19 for both products! Total steal.

Available at Tatcha online & Sephora. Note: the duo is only available at Sephora. 

Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Milk
6/18/13

I've received several requests for reviews of products for sensitive skin, and I'm thrilled to share my thoughts about my all-time fave facial cleanser. For those of you with sensitive skin and/or conditions like rosacea, acne, Melasma, etc., this cleanser is perfection. While I don't have hypersensitive skin, I am a fair-skinned redhead and certain products can irritate my skin, causing redness, tightness, and blotches. Sexy! I've had no such problems with Dr. Hauschka products.

The Dr. Hauschka brand is certified organic. Not only is it natural and organic, but the brand currently offers 121 products rated gluten-free by the German Celiacs Society, where the brand is based. While the Cleansing Milk I'm writing about isn't gluten-free, their Cleansing Cream is! I've love it, and actually use it when traveling. Ok, back to my beloved Cleansing Milk. The packaging is a simple clear bottle with the signature white and orange brand aesthetic, making a pretty addition to your vanity should you choose to leave it out. The top of the bottle locks by turning it, if you prefer to keep it horizontal in a shallow drawer. 

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The texture is soft and milky, of course. It has an incredibly mild fragrance that's fresh and soft. There's a hint of rose which I find pleasant and soothing. I use this cleanser in the morning, as I like to use my Sunday Riley cleansers at night. There's really no rhyme or reason, and for years I used this twice a day. But you know me. I always like trying new things! This cleanser is so gentle that I use it on my entire face, including my eye area. With a wet face, I use about 2-3 pumps and massage in a gentle, circular motion. It rinses off with little effort, and without the aid of a washcloth. My skin feels insanely smooth and hydrated after use. I follow with toner, serum and moisturizer in the morning. I highly recommend their Rose Day Cream (gluten-free) if your skin craves extra moisture or during colder weather, and the lighter Moisturizing Day Cream (also gluten-free) in humid or warmer weather. 

My verdict? A highly luxurious and gentle cleansing milk without the luxury price tag. This bottle lasts about 2 months with twice daily use. 

Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Milk is $36.95 for a 4.9 fl. oz. bottle.
**20% off all Dr Hauschka Products at Pharmaca!

Available at: Dr. Hauschka, Pharmaca, beauty.com, & in-store at most Whole Foods. 

JĀSÖN Quick Clean Makeup Remover Pads

6/4/13

What a find this product was. I initially spotted it at a natural pharmacy (Pharmaca in Portland, OR) where I often purchase my Dr. Hauschka products and Astara masks. I'd tried various types of liquid and cloth makeup removers, with varied price points. What grabbed my attention about this particular product was the container, which is awesome for frequent travelers. It's a small round shape with pre-soaked pads, so no worries about leaking! Frankly, the fewer liquid bottles I need to carry in my toiletries bags, the better. I also liked that it's oil-free and natural; no petrolatum, sodium lauryl or laureth sulfates (SLS), parabens or phthalates.

My expectations weren't high, since I'd been disappointed and stung (literally) by so many other products. I mainly need makeup remover for my eye makeup since I don't wear foundation or powder. That said, I wear some pretty heavy duty mascaras like Diorshow Black Out, as well as waterproof eyeliners. Volumizing mascaras are notoriously difficult to remove, and I was really unhappy with the liquid eye makeup removers I'd tried, including Lancôme, Clarins, and bareMinerals. They were either too messy, too oily or greasy, or just didn't work well. Since they're liquid, you also need to soak a cotton pad which wastes a ton of product. 

Jāsön has everything I need in one small, tidy package. The pre-soaked pads waste no product, and also expedites the process. I'm generally pretty tired when it comes time for my nightly regimen. I first lightly spritz my entire face with Evian, with a little extra on my closed eyes (you could also simply splash your face with water to loosen your makeup). I love that the Evian Brumitaseur comes in large and travel sizes, and are super refreshing. After waiting a moment, I apply a pre-soaked pad to my closed eyelid and hold it there for about 30 seconds to aid in gentle removal. As usual, I ignore the instructions after the first couple uses and do what I find works best. 

I then turn the pad over and use the other side to clean up what's left. It's that simple. I use one pad per eye, and a third to wipe the rest of my face. Note that this product is also fabulous for travel, to freshen up on the plane and when you're on the ground. I've used these pads to clean my full face in a pinch, and they work quite well. 

My verdict? I can't imagine going back to the overpriced, greasy eye makeup removers I used to use. This is natural, effective and simple. A keeper. 

$8.99 for a container with 75 pads. 

Available at Pharmaca and drugstore.com.