La Prairie
Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask
10/8/13

It's here! After much anticipation and raves from British Vogue to European beauty bloggers, I pre-ordered this highly-coveted mask from my La Prairie guru. At long last, it arrived last week. The packaging is pure luxury of course, and consistent with the rest of the Skin Caviar Line with a cobalt blue glass jar and silver top. The jar comes with a lovely brush, attached where a spoon would normally be for eye creams, along the silver rim at the base of the jar. Everything about the packaging screams luxury. From the silver boxes to the sealed silver paper, opening a La Prairie product is like opening a present- in every sense. 

I've long sung the praises of overnight masks, which is the optimal time for skin to reap the benefits. I have night and day masks for different needs, from added luminosity and exfoliation to a surge of hydration, and I rely on them about 2-3 timed weekly. Here are La Prairie's listed benefits for the Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask:

"During the night, Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask purifies and refines the skin and thoroughly replenishes it with moisture. 

Firmness is enhanced with caviar extracts and lines are plumped. 

It's an overnight sensation giving noticeable results quickly. Your skin will greet the day with fewer visible wrinkles, a firm look, a smoother texture, and the look of a healthy glow."

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The application is just plain fun. Instructions indicate to apply generous dots on forehead, cheeks, and chin. Using the brush, I smoothed the mask evenly over my face using upward strokes on my forehead, outward strokes over my cheeks, and downward strokes over my nose and chin. The creamy pink mask easily smoothed over my face with the delicate brush and instantly started to melt into my skin. I've used the mask three times now, and my skin is absolutely radiant the following morning. Fine lines plump up and appear to have vanished, my cheeks and jawline appear firmed, skin feels incredibly soft and smooth and my face is absolutely glowing. 

The first two applications, I let the mask sink into my skin and headed to sleep. The third application I decided to gently smooth the mask into my skin with my fingertips, which is listed as an option on the instruction card. That's the best bet for side sleepers, and it feels really good. It actually forms a clear film, locking in moisture. An overnight mask you can  wear to sleep without shooing (or scaring) your significant other away! The mask can be used 1-3 times per week, and I foresee myself using it twice a week since I like to use other masks as well. The brush can be cleaned with brush cleansers or with gentle soap and water and air dried. When I rinse the mask off, I'm happily surprised by the amount of time I spend rinsing it completely off my skin before cleansing. Who knew how deeply and how much this invisible mask absorbs? Super cool. 

My verdict? Sure, this seems like a heck of a splurge for a mask. I'd guess I'll get about 20 uses out of one jar. Considering what facials cost, it's actually a considerable savings since I think I'll be getting half as many. This is a facial in a jar, my friends.

La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask is $300 for a 1.7 oz. jar. 

Available at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Nordstrom. 

Sisley
Black Rose Cream Mask
8/26/13

Let's sleep on it- or with it on, in this case. I posed the question, "do you use face masks?" on Facebook a few months ago, and was shocked that so many women aren't reaping the benefits of my favorite skincare ritual. I know that time is a major factor for many people, and I'd like to share the time-saving beauty (no pun intended) of masks you can wear overnight. There are no added steps involved, since these masks are applied after cleansing and toning in lieu of a serum and a moisturizer. Sound more enticing yet?

I've had my eye on Sisley's Black Rose Cream Mask after reading an article in a July NYT Fashion & Style article about masks you can leave on overnight. It was photographed beside my beloved NARS Aqua Gel Luminous Mask, and I've been using lots of products with rose water and rose oil to calm inflammation. It basically had my name written all over it. While the Chantecaille Jasmine & Lily Healing Mask has their signature Rosewater base, it's meant to soothe and heal. This new mask by Sisley is their very first to contain anti-aging active ingredients. It brightens the complexion, revitalizes and heals, plumps up fine lines, gives the skin a surge of hydration, and makes my face absolutely radiant. And...you can SLEEP WITH IT ON! No extra time or steps involved, so no excuses! This joins the ranks of some of my all-time favorite overnight masks, shown below. 

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(clockwise from top left): Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask | NARS Aqua Gel Luminous Mask | Chantecaille Jasmine & Lily Healing Mask | Valmont Renewing Pack

I'd received a sample packet of the mask from Nordstrom, and it was enough to cover my face and neck. Given that it's Sisley and priced accordingly, this reassured me that the tube would last for at least two months with twice weekly use. Given that my skin has been inflamed and irritated as of late, I was thrilled that I had no issues which rocks since I never bother doing those patch tests. I applied the mask about an hour before heading to bed and loved the soft, creamy texture. It glided over my face and neck with ease, and was incredibly smooth and cooling. I found the light and lovely scent to be fresh and relaxing. I awoke to perfectly hydrated, luminous skin. My face had a distinct glow, and I knew it was love. Our bodies do miraculous things to heal while we sleep, making nighttime skincare both incredibly important and a good thing to do for yourself. 

The mask can be used two ways; overnight like I enjoy it, or for about 10-15 minutes for a quick boost to revitalize dull or tired skin. Ideal after a long day, before heading out for the evening. Simply apply a generous layer as you would for overnight use, but tissue (not rinse) off any remaining product. Your skin will look radiant and stay hydrated all night. And let's not forget about the anti-aging active ingredients. This is a fantastic substitute for a moisturizer on days or nights when your skin needs a pick-me-up. 

My verdict? This dual-purpose mask can revitalize the complexion and provide a surge of hydration when skin appears tired or dull. Whether you're recovering from a late night out or want to improve your skin's radiance while you sleep, Sisley has formulated their best mask yet. This mask is already a cult favorite, and is often sold out at many stores. The secret is out!

Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask is $158 for a 2.1 oz. tube. 

Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, & Saks. 

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.

Hydrating Mask

NARS Aqua Gel Luminous Mask
7/9/13

I know many women don't wear masks, and I'm hoping this easy and super hydrating mask will encourage even one woman to give it a try. I personally love masks, and experience many positive results after use - not to mention that I find them to be very relaxing and a nice way to wind down after a hectic day. I've tried enough to distinguish the good from the bad, so any mask I blog about is something I've used repeatedly. I use masks that brighten, refine pores, exfoliate, lift/firm, soothe/calm and hydrate. That's a lot to sort through! I'm happily working my way through them all and sharing my experiences. 

Now that I've finished my ode to why I love masks, I'm excited to talk about one of my new favorites. NARS has always been known for their fabulous makeup, but they recently reformulated their skincare line and relaunched it last year. Practice makes perfect, and I immediately fell in love with this intensive hydrating mask that smoothes and softens the skin while natural botanicals enhance collagen production. Youthful glow? Yes please! It's also Synthetic Fragrance-Free, Paraben-Free, Alcohol-Free and Gluten-Free. This is good stuff, my friends. Great for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

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The mask super simple to use and remove. For a quick burst of hydration and a dewy refreshed glow in a hurry, cleanse skin and massage a generous amount on face and neck, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for 5-10 minutes. The texture is incredibly soft, smooth and soothing. Then simply tissue off remaining product (your skin will drink up most of the mask) and follow with a toner. You won't need moisturizer after this ultra hydrating treatment. My favorite way to use the mask is to massage a super generous amount on my face and neck about an hour before bedtime, and allow the mask to work its magic while I sleep. If you follow my blog regularly, you already know how strongly I feel about using the right products at night when the body is in healing mode. This product is gentle and effective, leaving your skin radiant, silky smooth and hydrated come morning. What a nice way to start the day! 

My verdict? By far the best hydrating mask I've tried, bar none. The radiance and youthful glow are welcome bonuses. I highly recommend using it overnight to reap the most benefits. But starting slowly with a 10 minute trial run will win you over as well. A must-have.

I order my NARS products directly from my NARS and beauty guru in LA via phone and email. He's the skincare god who taught me the overnight method. They offer free shipping and generous samples to boot. Here's his contact info:

Michael Duquette | Award Winning, NARS-Certified Resident Artist

Nordstrom at The Grove 

323.900.1417

Michael.Duquette@nordstrom.com

NARS Aqua Gel Luminous Mask is $39 for a 2.6 oz. bottle. 

Or order from Nordstrom online, but you won't get extra, fun NARS samples. 

Kiehl's 
Midnight Recovery Concentrate
6/24/13

While this product has been out for awhile, I was a late adopter. I recall a typical in-store visit at the sales counter paying for my things, when I began perusing the impulse counter beauty eye candy and asked my fave Kiehl's rep about the serum. Another customer was waiting to checkout, and insisted that it was amazing and she couldn't live without it. I took a couple of samples and decided to give it a whirl. Then I started seeing it pop up in fashion and beauty press, and I had to have it. I ultimately ended up buying the smaller, 1 oz. bottle to truly experience this "amazing" serum.

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The dropper top bottle is dark but has a translucency when held up to light, which I loved because it's often difficult to distinguish when you're running low on your products. I truly believe in potent, nighttime skincare products, and like that this serum was designed for overnight repair. I like to put a few drops on my fingertips and smooth onto my face, neck, and décolletage. Because it's chock full of natural oils, it has a thin oily consistency. I first found the oily texture off-putting, but I think it's a common misconception and myth with skincare products that oils=breakouts. Well, I've been using this product for over two months and am happy to report that I've been blemish free. The natural oils are also rather soothing before heading to bed. 

Upon application the skin is extremely hydrated. A little goes a long way, and in hot or humid weather some find no need for moisturizer after applying the serum. I wait about 30 minutes after application and use my beloved La Mer or a new night cream I'm trying out. I find that I'm using half as much La Mer, which is certainly cost-saving. Come morning, my skin is hydrated and glowing. I was hooked after my first week, and have since gotten various friends addicted as well. I love when products actually deliver on their promises. 

My verdict? I just bought my second bottle...in the larger size. This serum has become a staple in my nightly regimen, and the softness and glow in the morning is a welcome sight.

***Note: pick up free samples at your local Kiehl's. 

- Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate is $46 for the 1 oz. bottle & $70 for the 1.7 oz. bottle

Available at Kiehl's, Nordstrom, & Barneys.

Night Eye Treatments:
philosophy miracle worker miraculous anti-aging eye cream
& Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye

Sleep. It does wonders for the mind, body, and soul. It's also the most important time to care for your skin. I spend more time researching and trying out eye creams and treatments than any other skincare product, particularly night treatments. Because the skin around our eyes is the thinnest and most delicate on our bodies, it shows signs of aging and is the most wrinkle-prone area we have. That said, a combination of those hard facts and some women I've seen who look far older than their age have solidified my commitment not only to overall skincare, but to keeping my eye area as nurtured and nourished as possible. What better time to layer up and generously apply products than before sleep?

I never thought I'd use or give kudos to philosophy products, as they generally haven't wowed me. I'd been interested in eye treatments with Retinol, and had been disappointed with other brands I've recently tried. This particular product contains "a proprietary Retinol blend, peptides, antioxidants and moisture." The reviews I'd read were overwhelmingly positive, so I decided to try it for myself. Along with the claim that "the signs of aging are visibly reduced, giving the eye a firmer, smoother appearance," I intended to use it as my first line of defense- under my go-to night treatment. I should note that this product can be used both morning and night, but I reserve it for nighttime application. I love the pump container, which keeps germs at bay. I use about two pumps and smooth over my entire eye area, including both the interior and exterior corners, the full under-eye area, and between and immediately above my brows. It has a gel-like texture that feels soft and gentle during application. I haven't experienced any negative reactions, and have noticed drastic improvements to fine lines, the dreaded line between the brows, and improved overall hydration. Kudos, philosophy!

Nighttime eye creams don't easily wow me. My expectations are generally rather elevated, and admittedly often unrealistic. Estée Lauder is another brand I used to snub in favor of either newer or luxury brands. I'd tried Advanced Night Repair Eye and quite liked it. But I felt there must be something better out there, for what I now realize are unfounded reasons. I used everything from La Mer to La Prairie, and pretty much everything in-between. Yet I found myself consistently returning to Advanced Night Repair Eye. The accolades from high-end fashion magazines to skincare gurus are impressive, and I allowed myself to experience and revel in the product's well documented benefits. The jar comes with a flat spoon applicator, keeping the product germ-free. I like to layer this gel-like treatment over philosophy miracle worker eye, but I also use this product on its own every other night. It manages to feel rich and refreshing at once, and smooths onto my delicate eye skin like a dream. I'm currently testing another brand of skincare, and this is the product I miss the most. Three more weeks! This miracle product has rid my eye area of small, set-in wrinkles I thought were here to stay. Well, I no longer have those wrinkles. I won't go without it again. This relationship is going the distance, and I foresee a bright, youthful future together. What can I say? It's true love. 

My verdict? Both products are purposeful, effective, and reasonably priced. If I had to pick only one, it would be Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye. But both together are an unbeatable match, and defy aging. Sold. 

- philosophy 'miracle worker' miraculous anti-aging eye cream is $65 for 0.5 oz. 

- Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye is $52 for 0.5 oz. 

Both are available at Nordstrom.