La Mer:
The Concentrate
8/12/14

Although I'd received small samples of this wonder serum over the years, I never really understood how or why I should use The Concentrate. While I've been a devout fan of the original Crème de la Mer and The Eye Balm Intense since my college years (completely my roommate's fault), this product was a complete mystery to me. The problem with La Mer products is that they're like potato chips and Chanel nail polishes – you can't have just one. I went from using the original Crème de la Mer to using The Eye Balm Intense, then The Hand Treatment, The Lip Balm, The Cleansing Foam, The Hydrating Infusion, The Mist, and so on and so forth. I won't continue my embarrassingly long list. You get the idea.

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I'm now knee-deep in The Concentrate, and lemme tell ya – it's true love. Sure, it was created by a scientist to help heal burns and skin wounds and all sorts of scary skin ailments. Now imagine what it does for healthy skin. That's right. We're talking flawless. Heaven for an admitted skincare perfectionist. Any teeny tiny fine lines I had? Gone. A hint of an old scar? Gone. All flaws gone! Aside from banishing any minor imperfections, my skin has never looked better. My pores are minuscule, any redness or unevenness in skintone is immediately corrected, and my skin is glowing. I would bathe in the stuff if I could. I've even taken to applying it around my eye area prior to applying either the Crème de la Mer (safe for use on the eye area, including eyelids) or under my eye cream. I also apply it on my neck and décolletage, of course. 

My verdict? Worth every penny. Whether you have scars and your skin needs TLC or simply want to use The Concentrate as an omg, endless compliment-inducing skin miracle, you can't go wrong. There's no other product like it. Is it overkill for people with great skin? Sure. But there is no shame in my game. My skin may be pretty darn flawless, but this is my secret weapon to keeping it that way– and I do enjoy the compliments. ;)

La Mer 'The Concentrate' is $425 for a 1.7 oz. bottle, & $325 for a 1 oz. bottle. 

Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Barneys & La Mer online. 

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. 

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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. 

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. 

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.

Lancôme Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector
5/24/13

Ah, anti-aging products. My friends used to make fun of me for wearing eye cream when I was 16. My obsession with skincare has only grown throughout the years, and then my mid-30s knocked on the door. I came to the realization that I needed the heavy artillery to combat the scary, line-inducing years ahead. Thus began my hunt for the perfect serum/s. 

Visionnaire was incredibly well advertised on both television and in print, and I picked up a bottle with healthy skepticism. While I've taken fine care of my fair Irish skin, I'd begun to notice things like enlarged pores and those dreaded fine lines. I also had some unevenness and sun damage I'd attempted to correct with various spa treatments and moisturizers alone. Visionnaire's LR2412 technology is at the forefront of their promise to correct wrinkles, pores and uneven skin texture. They basically threw their other serum under the bus, calling this their first advanced skin corrector AND their first skin-correcting serum. Glad I never tried Génefique! 

I've been using this product every morning for the past month after cleansing and toning. The texture is soft and soothing with a pearlescent sheen, and a light and pleasant fragrance. Instructions indicate that the serum can also be used on the delicate eye area, which rocks! Easy, pleasant application with zero irritation. I use three pumps, or about the size of a quarter. After smoothing over my entire face (including my eye area), I wait a moment or so for the serum to dry, then follow with a moisturizer. I love their Rénergie daytime moisturizer with this serum. When it's humid, I've simply worn Clarins SPF over the serum. The results? See for yourself! (click photo to enlarge)

My skin has changed drastically since I began using Visionnaire. The first thing I noticed were tightened pores and that my skin tone had remarkably improved. Old acne scars and random spots faded and have virtually disappeared. Note that I don't wear foundation, and both before and after photos were taken with bare skin in natural light. No Photoshop here. I used to spot-cover my old marks with concealer, and barely have the need these days. Even my old nose ring scar (ah, those teen years) has practically vanished. Better still? My under-eye area has lightened and my fine lines are nearly non-existent. Lancôme indicates you can use this serum day and night, but I have a night-specific serum (review soon) so this is my secret weapon in the a.m. I've already ordered my second bottle because I'm not willing to chance running out! I think this is a fabulous product for those of us in our 30's-early 40's. 

My verdict? Can't live without it. Hurray for science & technology!

Price: $69 for .67 oz., $89 for 1 oz., $109 for 1.7 oz., & $150 for 3.4 oz.

Available at: Lancôme, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, & Bloomingdales.