By Terry Densliss Primer, By Terry Eye Powder Kajal, Natura Bissé Life Infusion Eye Serum, Lift Lab.

Let's discuss some of the new things that have arrived….

By Terry Eye Powder Kajal: This new pretty I haven't worn on my eyes yet, but from swatching it's a velvet finish in the sense it's not an inky super black eyeliner like your standard liquid. It's not a jet black liner, but the finish and color gives it this gorgeous sultry look. I'll play with this later this week. It's definitely beautiful, glides on like butter, and easy to work with. But once it sets, it doesn't seem to move at least on my hand.

By Terry Densliss Primer: this stuff…feels like caviar in terms of the luxurious feel. It has the signature Terry fragrance, can be worn alone to blur out pores and wrinkles. This primer is what I wanted Hourglass Mineral Veil to be in terms of the blurring effect. It's definitely gorgeous on its own and doesn't leave a white cast. It's like a lotion in terms of feel and texture. I'm still playing with this under different foundations to see how it looks. I will report back on this too to give a comprehensive review. Just be aware that Terry will be releasing more items in the upcoming months. I can't discuss details, but I am SO EXCITED.

Natura Bisse Essential Shock Intense Complex: This serum has definitely changed in terms of consistency, smell, and texture. I like the newer texture since it's not sticky, and the smell is gone from this serum. The smell didn't bother me before, but it was definitely not very pleasant. The downside on the new formulation (at least to me) is that it doesn't have that super tightening effect it left behind. I could feel the tightening which felt awesome. From the information on this new complex, it seems to be focusing on the firming aspect of the skin too. I've been wearing the original and the new formulation on my neck and décolleté and it's total LOVE. I'm in the preventative stages when it comes to lines, so this is a must have for me. I plan on getting the full size of this once I run out of my samples.

Diamond Life Infusion Retinol Eye Serum: This baby I've been wanting to try because I have serious dark under eye circles and puffiness. Diamond Extreme Eye helps with moisture in my under eye area, but I want something more when it comes to my dark under eyes and puffiness. This is only meant to be used at night for those who were wondering, as it does have retinol. The retinol is encapsulated to prevent it from oxidizing. I also like the idea of it being encapsulated so when it gets absorbed into the skin, the retinol works from deeper layers in the skin. You warm the serum up with your fingers and pat it on the eye area. A little does go a long way with this.

It will be released sometime this fall. I've always wanted to try the Diamond Life Infusion Serum for the face/neck, but I've been told i'm not old enough yet for it…but I do know I could benefit from the eye serum. I've only used it once and I am curious to see how the long term effects of this specific product. I want the full size now since like 2 months ago. ha ha.

Natura Bisse Diamond White Instant Makeup Remover: This is also an item that will be released sometime later, haven't tried it yet since I want to seriously layer a lot of makeup to see how effective it is in removing it.

Lift Lab is a skincare line I haven't heard of until recently until I went to Boston. It's a line whose ingredients come from biological components most commonly found in wintering plants and marine life in the sub-artic regions. What spikes my interest in this line is the anti-inflammatory and skin regenerating aspect. The serum is what personally catches my attention, because I'm always on the hunt for some holy grail serum. I also just got this and will report back. Has anyone used anything from this line? If so I would love to hear your thoughts.

Hope everyone is well. :)

Biologique Recherche Ingredients List and mini reviews:

It's a bit of a random post, but since I am in the process of packing/moving, I've managed to find skincare boxes that were hiding out in random places in the apartment. Before I throw them away and continuing on with the packing, here they are and my thoughts on them:

Ingredients of Creme VIP O2

Creme VIP O2: This cream has a pearly like appearance in the jar (it's a white cream), glides onto the skin and definitely leaves your skin a matte finish. It absorbs quickly for me, which is a plus. For someone like myself who is subject to extreme weather conditions and pollution, it helps my skin not feel super dry and helps keep my skin redness at bay due to the harsh winters. For those with super dry skin may not like this since I don't really consider this a hydrating cream. As a result of this cream, my skins texture has improved in terms of an overall brightening effect and my pores aren't as clogged used in conjunction with P50. I love this cream so much that I purchased another one. Price: $175

Ingredients of Creme Placenta

Creme Placenta: I used an entire tub of this and I was struggling to finish it. It's supposed to be a healing cream for those with acne breakouts in order to reduce the redness and inflammation. I don't think this did much for my acne. Granted my acne is hormonal, but on occasion if I am stressed out or break out from certain makeup products, I do break out. The texture is a bit thick, the color of the cream is like a beige/tan color. It absorbs well and I vaguely remember having the smell of stinky bread, although the smell was not as potent as it is in Creme Dermopurifiante. I won't be purchasing this again. Price: $57

Ingredients of Creme Amnios

Creme Amnios: This cream is supposed to be a skin renewal/regenerating cream, to be used at night. It has a pearly white appearance like Creme VIP O2. This cream is one of the very few original creams (that hasn't been reformulated) that came out when Biologique Recherché was launched. I don't mind the cream, but I don't think it did much for me either. It takes a bit more effort than the other creams I've tried to sink into my skin. I'm almost done with the tub of this and needless to say, I haven't seen much results with this. Will I be repurchasing this? No. Price: $123

Ingredients of Creme Dermopurifiante

Creme Dermopurifiante: This cream is more meant to be used at night to help with inflammation (from active acne) and the heal acne faster. The major downside to this cream: it's thick and it has a strong stinky bread smell. Like SUPER STRONG. I gagged when I first tried this back in May 2013. I remember wearing this during the summer and the cream was uncomfortable because it was so thick and you could feel it sit on top of your skin after absorption. Trust me, I almost wanted to get rid of this cream because of it. I kept at it for the sake of science and to give it a chance. Luckily for me, it has helped with my acne and my skin really feels super hydrated. Plus I think I got used to the smell of the stinky bread and how it feels on my skin. I haven't worn this recently since I am trying to finish Creme Amnios, and I am seriously anxiously wanting to use my Creme Dermopurifiante soon. I love this stuff. It's fantastic, I'm almost done with my 3rd tub of it. It's basically what I wanted Creme Placenta to be. Price: $87

PM skincare routine:

My evening skincare regimen:

For those who don't know my skin type: it's combo/dry, with some oily areas on my t-zone in the summer. I did experience breakouts, primarily on my forehead and jawline. I've been to dermatologists, only for them to recommend a glycolic cleanser and retin-A, which made my skin worse. After trial and error, this has been the best for my acne, without drying me out. 

Check out the video:




For those interested in ingredients, I have some of the ingredients from the boxes, others I do not. Here is what I do have:

VIP O2 cleanser: Aqua, Squalene, Proplyene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Amniotic Fluid, Pentalyene Glycol, Perfluorodecalin, PEG-20 Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Proplyene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Silk, Yeast Extract, Peanut oil, Witch Hazel Bark/Leaf/Twig extract,  Myrtle extract, Mimosa Bark extract, St. Johns Wort Flower/Stem/Leaf Extract, Onion Bulb extract, Myrrh Resin extract, Cucumber fruit extract, embryo extract, vinegar, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine HCl, Thamine HCl, Urea, Serine, Allantoin, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethyl Linolenate, Ethyl Oleate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Magnesium Chloride, Papain, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, TEA-Lactate, Sodium Salicylate, Rhizobian Gum, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Cetyl Palmitate, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, Poloxamer 188, BHA, BHT, Caprylyl Glycol, P-Anisic Acid, Polyacrylamide, C13-14, Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Potassium Sorbate, Methylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea, Propylparaben, Alcohol.

P50 Lotion: Aqua, Glycerin, Phenol, Niacinamide, Vinegar, Ethoxydiglycol, Magensium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sulfur. 

for those concerned with Phenol: there are 2 other versions that I *think* are Phenol free (P50V, and P50W).

Masque Vivant ingredients

Creme Dermopurifiante ingredients

Complexe Iribiol Ingredients: Aqua, Alcohol, Proplyene Glycol, Orris (Iris florentina) extract, Zinc PCA, Retinyl Palmitate, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobuylparaben, CI 36 035.

Natura Bisse Tolerance Eye Recovery Balm ingredients

Natura Bissé Skincare +

I'm not one to discuss skincare on this blog, for two main reasons:

1. I'm not one to really change my routine, I mean my base (staple) skincare hasn't really changed, but it has expanded with serums and other items over the past couple of years.

2. I never wanted this blog to be primarily on skincare, just makeup.  My skin is unique to me and it's still an ever changing, evolving process to figure out what's best for me.

This year I've decided to start focusing more on the anti-aging piece moreso than preventive action. I've realized I'm at a coming of age if I don't start soon, my skin will take a downhill turn. 

My skin is like the worst combination of both my parents -- my mother who wrinkles easily, and my father who had serious acne. Not to mention the fact that I NEVER SLEEP? This insomniac needs all the skincare to compensate for my lack of sleep. I average per day 4 - 6 hours of sleep. Let's just say I'm more towards the 4 hours of sleep. There are periods I sleep 12 hours, but that's rare.  

Some of you may or may not know...I am a serious skincare junkie, just as much as I am of a makeup junkie. Maybe my priorities have changed, but I've been moreso into skincare in the past 1-2 years than ever before. 

So what does this pair of panties use? Well it may be no surprise to some, but I primarily use Natura Bissé (in conjunction with NIA24). 

I may have even influenced some YouTubers and other bloggers to at least experiment with the line. 

My glory skincare line :D Full sized items all around, deluxe samples in the center given to me. 

And Natura Bissé's newest product that will be released soon, High Density Lift. Thank you to the amazing person who gave this to me:

Ingredients of High-Density cream. 

*drools in anticipation* Oh trust me, I'll use this bad boy later in the week. *grins*

So, what are some of the items from the line that I think everyone should at least sample?

Glyco Extreme Peel: I've tried many glycolic acid products (cleansers, toners, treatments, etc). Nothing has overtaken the crown on this peel. I've gone through a couple of bottles of this already (all purchased). It's probably the star of the Natura Bissé skincare line. It pains my wallet, but I do have a backup in my bathroom. It will probably be opened sometime this fall. 

Diamond Ice-Lift Mask: This is one of my recent purchases and so far, this product is amazing. It's applied on after all of your skincare, including moisturizer. The first time I applied it, my skin tingled and I passed out from the Lavender smell. I can't explain how therapeutic this mask is. Your skin feels like a babys bottom, hydrated, soft, and just plush. The one issue I have with this mask is that if you apply it very close to your hairline, pieces of this mask is hard to remove from your hair. The third time I've used it, I had like 2 small pieces of the mask in my hair (practice makes perfect). Not to mention how COOL it looks in your hand (see below).

Ingredients of the Diamond Ice-Lift Mask

Diamond Luxury Cleanse: I know most of us use Bioderma for makeup removal, but for those nights when you need to remove a full coverage foundation, or a heavy duty sunscreen, or just makeup that's overall difficult to remove? (Hello, waterproof mascara) You lightly rub the gel against your face, and literally EVERYTHING just glides off. Your skin feels clean without a separate cleanser. I do take the second step to use Bioderma on my eyes for any trace makeup and lightly swipe my face. There's usually nothing left from my face. This stuff may seem insane price-wise ($135) for a cleanser, but for those who want to indulge on a luxury cleanser that is a no-fuss makeup remover, this is definitely it.

Are any of you familiar with Natura Bissé? If so what are your experiences with the line? Or if you just have any questions, feel free to comment below. :)

Haul in the past couple of months :D +

Videos!

Skincare:


Makeup! :D

Let me know if you prefer more videos or primarily sticking to just writing. I know for sure I want to do a video once I have my organization set up. 

Items in my current rotation +

Since I've been on a hiatus, I need to make up for lost time (oops). 

Okay, so items I have been using often are as follows -- FYI I got the RBR compact as a gift from Sethakins. It's not a sponsored post, nor am I getting paid to post it. 

Armani Precision Retouch Concealer: Now that the weather is getting warmer, it's time to lay off on the heavier texture face items...at least my skin prefers thinner formulas come the warmer months. This stuff is seriously high coverage, with an amazing thin brush to get in the under eye areas, as well as point conceal targeted areas. I'm shade 3.

Kilian Extreme Oud: you can read my a couple of posts down. It's so sensual...and delicious. :)

Addiction Damask Rose: It's time for me to break out the brighter pinks, and the easiest way for me to break into those shades is always with a nice bright blush. Not to mention the balmy texture and ease of application. :) 

Hourglass Vintage Lipstick: This one was hiding in my stash for a while. I had purchased it at a Sephora where Josh Collier (MUA) was working at. He showed me the newest lipstick shades, and picked out this color. Totally forgot I had it, until I was settling into the new place and saw it. It's such a gorgeous warm pink brown. 

Chantecaille Just Skin Foundation: Chantecaille is one of those lines that doesn't have an exact match for me in their foundations. I made Future Skin work as best as I could, but over time I found better matches and eventually stopped using it. It made me sad that I couldn't use their Future Skin, but I was determined to have a foundation from their line. Luckily their Just Skin shade in Glow is a semi close match, and it's forcing me to use lighter coverage foundations. I like it so far, but we'll see if it's an item I'll repurchase.

You know Guerlain is another line that I don't have a match in? And they too make nice foundations. 

By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in #9 Dare to Bare: It's a lipcolor that makes a statement in of itself, a pink with some mauve in it. It darkens my lipcolor, while providing a soft sheen. It's my favorite shade from the new Sheer Rouge line. 

By Terry Laque de Rose in #8: I'm running out of this shade, and I think I have backup somewhere. It pains my little soul that this shade is forever gone. It's that gloss that I use after a lipstick fades because it's just so easy to apply, not to mention just beautiful.

Skinceuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 45: With the sun being out more, and yours truly being sensitive to the sun, I have to use a higher SPF sunscreen. I've bought several of these, and have yet to find something better that works for my skintype. It's a thick cream that blends quickly, doesn't leave a white cast and it wears like iron. You can see in the photo how much I love this sunscreen.

Rouge Bunny Rouge mirror compact: I got this as a present from Sethakins himself, and little did he know I had a worn down mirror that I used since middle school. LOL I refuse to post a picture of the old mirror. I'm glad I have something more polished and functional. Thank you for the awesome present. 

:)

Summer Favorites:

Summer is definitely here in NYC to some extent...warmer weather is approaching, but at times it's a bit cooler than normal. Humidity hasn't been in full force (yet). I'm loving the nicer weather. 

When comes nice weather, I do like to experiment playing with warmer colors. You normally wouldn't catch me dead in warm pinks...but I'm always trying to venture outside the box. :)

As of late, these are the items I've been reaching for lately:

Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight Celestial Powder: a gorgeous, finely milled highlighter. As much as I do love my liquid highlighters, I've been reaching for this since it's so subtle, yet it has the perfect sheen and nuances when the sun hits your face. It's not in your face sheen, the sheen only shows up when your face hits a certain angle in the light, as how a highlighter should be. Perfect year round if you ask me.

Ellis Faas Skin Veil: I love this foundation, but I only wear it when I'm out at night when I want more coverage. I'm shade 103.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Milk Aquarelle (Chestnut): it's a light weight foundation that I've been wearing almost everyday. It's a satin finish, that looks like your skin but better. This is going to replace my Chantecaille Future Skin. As much as I love Future Skin, the lasting power is a bit short, plus they don't have the right shade for me. I'm thrilled to find a foundation that literally looks like your skin but better, and that it's an awesome match. Of course nothing beats RBRs luxe packaging.

Skinceuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50: With the sun being out in full force, plus using glycolic acid in my skincare regimen, I need something to protect my face from the UV rays. I like the high SPF and it's a very thin liquid formula, but the downside is that it takes a while to make the white cast to go away. When I'm more oily, the white cast disappears instantly though. Their SPF 45 is a heavy cream formula, but the upside is that the white cast goes away instantly. When I run out of this, I'll be going back to the SPF 45 formula (plus it's water and sweat resistant).

By Terry Bronze Expert Sheer Cream Blush in #1 -- Copper Sand: It's a really warm terracotta pink, but it looks terracotta in color when just used alone. When used in conjunction with liquid or cream bronzer, the pink really stands out and is a soft warm pink. It's really a unique shade that I own, and it just screams summer. Sadly, this item is discontinued, which is why I never got around to reviewing it.

Le Metier de Beaute Cebu Lip Creme: This was a Neimans Exclusive at Tysons Galleria in Virginia. I was in town when Pink Sith reviewed this little gem. I drove on over and picked it up. Gorgeous warm pink shade with gold sparkle. This is what NARS Orgasm lipgloss wishes she was. For those of you who missed out on this shade, you can mix Fraise lipcreme with Vanilla Rose and they look extremely similar.

By Terry Laque de Rose in #5 (Infernal Rose): This shade is my alpha and omega...this is the shade I've been looking for...for many years. I was convinced that me and corals would never coexist. I thought that corals hated me since my skintone was odd...and then she came...it was love at first sight. It's electric in the tube, and a miracle on the lips. Of course the downside for some people is the strong By Terry rose scent. The formula is divine since it hydrates my lips, but the lasting power is a bit short. Not surprised, but I don't mind reapplying the color. It's a beautiful mid tone coral, but pack on the gloss and it's definitely vibrant. sigh. It's a recent acquistion, but a staple now given that it's summer time.

By Terry Gold Digger Gloss Terrybly Shine

Le Metier de Beaute Bella Bronze liquid bronzer: this is my favorite liquid bronzer. Beautiful golden sheen on my arms, neck, face. I can see this not being liked by some people since it has peanut oil (I know it's a common allergy). The bottle on the left is the original formula, the new bottle on the right (silver and clear), is the one that is with a GWP at Neimans and Bergdorfs recently. I'm a bit upset that the new formula isn't the exact same as the original. The new one is a bit darker and brown, whereas the original is more golden. For those who missed out, check out Rouge Bunny Rouge Bronzing Liquid

Becca Beach Tint in Guava: gorgeous warm peachy pink that lasts all day on your face as a blush, or a nice stain on your lips. This is the item that inspired me to wear warmer colors. I'm looking foward to Becca's upcoming beach tints.

Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint in Tenne: a cool based pink-brown cream blush, for those days when I want to be a bit more netural and not have all warm colors on my face...I can see this being a soft blush shade or a slight contour.

Photos: !

Cebu, Infernal Rose #5, Gold Digger, Guava, Copper Sand, Tenne, Bella Bronze original, Bella Bronze current

in the photo below u can see the difference between the 2 Bella Bronze a bit better.

Cebu, Infernal Rose #5, Gold Digger, Guava, Copper Sand, Tenne, Bella Bronze original, Bella Bronze current

random things i'm loving at the moment ++

I've been a bit of a youtube stalker viewer/subscriber as of late, and watching all of the beautiful ladies and their "Favorites of March, April 2012" videos has made me wonder what I've been wearing often and what I've been enjoying. Who knows? Maybe someone is interested in what I like/use often.

Thank you to my twitter followers for recommending me some awesome people to watch. 

So here are some of my favorites of the moment: 

top row:

Natura Bisse Glyco Extreme Peel: I just started my 2nd bottle of this a couple of weeks ago or so, and it pains my wallet to shell out the cash for this product, but it seriously has made my skin texture more even, exfoliates my skin so well, and in conjunction with sunscreen, it prevents my hyperpigmentation spots from getting darker. My skin is smoother, moisturizers apply better, and I look so much better. It's $245 + tax, but if you think of the price of professional glycolic peels (one session being about the same price as the bottle), I think the price isn't THAT scary (ok, maybe that's just my justification for buying it). The benefit of the Natura Bisse Glyco Extreme Peel, you do get the same professional results, but at the comfort of your own home. I would write a review, but I never took pictures of my skins progress with this item, sad to say. If you'd like to read about my experience with glycolic products, let me know. 

Trilogy Rosehip Oil and CoQ10 booster serum: I always apply these products immediately after doing the glyco extreme peel (once a week), and the rosehip oil every night before I go to bed. With my combo skin, it doesn't break me out and gives me extra hydration. This allergy season has been drying my skin out, and it's been a life saver.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Milk Aquarelle in Chestnut Milk Parfait: I like this product a lot and bought it on a whim. By itself it's a light-almost medium coverage foundation and it covers my natural redness pretty well by itself. It reminds me of a lighter/sheerer version of Ellis Faas Skin Veil. As much as I love Skin Veil, I only wear it when I'm out at night since it's a bit heavier than what I'd like for daytime wear. Chestnut is a bit too light for me now, but mixed with Chantecaille Future Skin in Nude (a bit off in undertone) it gives an almost perfect match. When I run out of Chestnut, I'll purchase the next shade up (darker).

Becca Beach Tint in Watermelon: A true watermelon shade for the cheeks, and it's so easy to take in my bag. No need to really explain the product since it speaks for itself. To get more information about Becca's Beach Tints, check out this review.

Chantecaille Lip Chic in Bourbon Rose: It's a lovely light pink lipstick, glossy in finish and super hydrating given allergy season. I'm thinking about doing a review of this in the near future, but check out my review of Tea Rose (oddly enough I just realized this morning Tea Rose is missing -- I need to buy another one TODAY). I'm that attached to my lip chics that knowing it's missing, I feel incomplete. 

Rouge Bunny Rouge Word of Mouth 

By Terry Rose Contour lipliner: This lipliner was limited edition for this past spring. This lipliner formula is nothing short of magical. I can wear it alone and it's not drying at all. It glides out without tugging the lips, and it's a soft rose shade. I'm not too fond of Terry's current line of lipliners, because the formula isn't really unique. Terry, PLEASE make these new lipliners current! As of late I've been lightly lining/defining my lips with this shade. It's really a gorgeous shade.  

By Terry lipgloss in Gold Digger

Giorgio Armani Gloss d'Armani in 509

Suqqu F, M, and L brushes: my newest brushes which I still haven't really played around with yet. I need to play with them some more before I can give a comprehensive review. I've been too busy working and catching up on sleep, but I just had to show them since I get really excited when I buy new brushes (which isn't often at all).

What are some of the things that you're loving lately? Any thoughts on stuff I should review soon? Or do you have any questions for me in general?

By Terry Seve de Rose Ultra-Glow Double Serum +

July has been a seriously hot and humid. Like disgustingly hot during the night too. Generally when it comes to the summer heat, I opt not wearing any makeup. I mean what's the point? Foundation will slide off within minutes...right?

Until now...

So over a month ago, I had David do my makeup and he usually uses By Terry Seve de Rose as my foundation primer/moisturizer. I always wanted to buy it, but of course...I told myself "I'll eventually get it". I didn't see a need since I generally use Shu Uemura Stage Performer as my primer. Granted it's an awesome primer, it's too heavy for the summer heat and humidity. 

So he used Seve de Rose underneath Ellis Faas foundation (will review later). Ellis Faas foundation is a medium coverage, satin finish. It was a night where it was over 100 degrees at 11 pm. I realized that it would be my primer for the heat...why do you ask? 

Texture: It's definitely a serum in terms of formula, gel like in consistency. It's very light weight and it absorbs pretty quickly. It has the signature By Terry fragrance, sooo delish ! The smell does linger on your face, which I don't mind because it's so lush. I like to use like 2-3 pumps for my face. You can probably use 2, but i like a bit more because it's addicting. 

Effect: As the title states, it is a glow serum, and it definitely does that. I can use this alone, or under foundation for an awesome glow. None of that ugly microsparkle that makes it seem like you're luminous. Just awesome "hi, I had 12 hours of sleep and I'm well rested" glow. What makes me excited about this serum is that my medium coverage foundation stayed on my face (first applied at 7pm). It stayed on my face when it was 103 degrees at 11 pm, and it stayed on when it was 85 degrees at like 3 am with like 90% humidity. How awesome is that? Yea...I thought so too.

When I worked during the day, I reached for this stuff because I looked like crap. Tired, sallow skin...yet coworkers were like "wow how did you adjust to working during the day and not be tired"? I actually was tired, but they didn't need to know that. The wonders of By Terry. *sigh*. Long story short, Seve de Rose is what like MAC strobe cream wishes it was...except Seve de Rose is liquid crack, laced with some gelato on top.

Now on the box it's supposed to detoxify your skin...I can't speak for that because as of late my face is going through some detox. Reason being I've been using Natura Bisse, so the detoxifying isn't really from the By Terry serum (in my opinion).

Price and size: $90, 30 mL or 1.02 oz.

Worth the purchase?: If you're someone who is always looking tired, I think it's something to look into. If you're combo-oily skin and need a good primer and (or) light moisturizer, this is great stuff. mmm.I just consider this my liquid crack.

Onto the photos :D

see i've been using it often ;D 

ingredient list (back of the box)

right side of my hand has Seve de Rose applied.

bottom part of my hand has Seve de Rose

Shu Uemura Stage Performer Instant-Glow +

An area I normally don't explore too much when it comes to makeup are face/foundation primers. One of the reasons is probably because my first experience with a foundation primer, my skin burned (thank you, Bobbi Brown Face Base). Then when I had purchased Water Canvas foundation, I bought the accompanying primer. I've used the primer quite a lot since it did its job. I mean, it made my foundation last longer but I wasn't wowed by it. But given my inexperience with primers, I didn't know what to really expect from one. 

So a while back I bought Stage Performer and I liked it, but I didn't use it for that long because my mom stole mine >:(. It's funny because my mom tends to steal my most expensive or hard to find stuff. 

Moving along...a bit about Stage Performer and its overall purpose (courtesy of the Shu Uemura website):

stage-inspired multi-functional beauty cream to enhance makeup finish and deliver a natural glow. contains Ginkgo Leaf extract to fight oxidation. instantly, skin appears more luminous, translucent and smooth. provides 24-hour lasting moisture.

 To see a video, check it out here.

Texture and Formula: It definitely feels like a cream...it's not a gel cream, if that's what you're wondering. I like this cream because isn't sticky or heavy for my combination skin. The cream itself is white, but when you look at it up close it has like little grey specs in it. So don't think your Stage Performer is rancid when you squeeze some out. The formula isn't heavy on your face at all, which is pretty cool because when I first dispensed it, I didn't think it would go well with my skintype. I can say dry skin types will love this stuff since it gives your skin moisture. 

What does it really do for me: I can wear Stage Performer as a nice cream by itself and it gives my face a nice radiance. So for those of you who have skin that needs a little extra pep in its step, this is really something to consider. Under foundation, especially my non-luminous ones, it gives it a tiny bit of luminosity that doesn't look over the top. As for longevity, it does make my foundation last longer, but the main premise of this product is for the luminosity and moisture. 

I'm sure there are some people who are asking, how does this compare to MACs strobe cream/liquid? they both have the same premise of working underneath your foundation to give your face a nice glow, but Strobe Cream is definitely something that can be a little too over the top. Over the top in the sense of the "shine" where sometimes it doesn't look natural. I love Strobe Cream when I'm wearing a heavier foundation when I go out at night, but it's not something I personally would use for the daytime. Plus Stage Performer is a moisturizer, whereas Strobe Cream is just an illuminator.

The biggest thing about this is how it makes my face look in photos. It totally makes your skin look soft and radiant, even under heavy flash. I love the look and effect it gives, so delish. There's nothing better than to have a primer that just makes your face look so lush <3

Price and Size: $50, 1.6 oz

Is it worth the $: I think it's something to consider moreso for the fall/winter when our skin gets a bit drier and need a nice cream/primer in one. I actually even like it for now, even though it's the summer because it's not that heavy of a cream, but it's definitely moisturizing. For those of you who like a soft natural radiance but don't have the time to apply highlighters, just putting this in your bag and applying it on the go is definitely a time saver. For those of you who own a foundation that just makes your face look blah, this will definitely give the foundation some radiance and not make your face look flat.

Ingredients list.

 A bit of Stage Performer on my hand

The bottom of my hand has Stage Performer, the top doesn't. 

Bottom/left has Stage Performer

Top/right has nothing on.

Trilogy Hydrating Mist Toner +

I try to keep this blog about makeup, but of course I will write about a few skincare products that I use very often. I've been really liking Trilogy's Hydrating Mist Toner :) 

Trilogy is known for their rosehip oil (which is a staple in my skincare actually). This stuff smells amazing and it's the best stuff that has come across my face. Ok, but this review is about their Hydrating Mist Toner (sorry for digressing). They're all about simple, organic and natural ingredients. I know it sounds so cliche, but as I've stated before: my skin does not react well to fruit ingredients in skincare. The few items that my skin won't react to, it generally doesn't sit well on my face either. Until I found Trilogy skincare.

Their products are made in New Zeland and for those of you who are wondering: the ingredients are GMO free, they are against animal testing and are recyclable bottles. 

Package: All of their products come in a dark glass bottle. The spray nozzle is awesome because it shoots a very fine spray. It doesn't feel like I've been rained on and when it lands on your skin, you don't see large drops on your face. It's 3.3 oz. 

Smell: it smells like roses and lavender. Big surprise eh? 

Ingredients:  Rosa Centrifolia (Rose Flower) Water, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium Flower) Wate, Lavendula Officinalis (Lavender) Water, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool, *Components of Natural Essential Oils

Why I think it's great: I've tried a few face mists, and most of them leave a funny feeling on my face. This once settled into my skin, it feels so soft. When my skin starts to feel hot, I spritz some of this on, and the feeling goes away. Generally when my face feels hot, it's usually from the weather and I start to break out in random red spots. This stuff totally calms my face. I use this even when after I apply my makeup and it just feels so great against your skin. 

Price and where it's sold: $28 and it's sold primarily online. I'm lucky that I live near one of the four stockists in the USA, so I get mine from a local spa.

I use their Replenishing Night Cream for daytime during the winter. Whoever made this cream should receive an award because it's one of the very few creams that actually absorbs into my skin. As I stated before, I use their Rosehip oil (year round).

Bioderma Crealine H2O

So I just finished using my regular makeup remover: Trilogy Cream Cleanser. I like the idea of a cream cleanser because it's not as drying on your skin, but overall this particular cream cleanser slightly burned my skin. Why? I know I'm just overall sensitive to most skincare that has a lot of fruit ingredients. I'll review this at a later date, but it is great if you aren't sensitive to those kinds of ingredients.

So I've seen in various places about this particular cleanser/makeup remover and how awesome it is. I went to a boutique pharmacy in Chelsea, NYC called New London Pharmacy and purchased the larger bottle. This location also sells other French brands Embryolisse, Nuxe, among other niche skincare brands.

The formula: definitely the consistency of water. No smell, or at least none that I can detect.

How to use: apply some on a cotton ball and just glide across sections of your face. It's not emulsifying, nor does it leave your skin feeling tight or dry. It's literally the same feeling as if you have water in that cotton ball. Simple enough. There's really no need to clean your face with a separate cleanser, at least for me. My skin really feels clean with  just this product alone.

What makes this item so great? You can remove heavy duty makeup, including waterproof stuff with 1-2 swipes. Most makeup removers require the extra step of washing your face afterwards. I'm a person who is always on the go and saving myself an extra step is a big plus. Another thing is that my face doesn't turn red with this product. Nor does this make my eyes sting/burn woo woo woo !! :) It's truly a magical product. This stuff removes just overall gunk on your face. I want to use this as my new overall skin cleanser/toner. I truly <3 this item.

When I purchased this item, the checkout clerk asked me: Are you a makeup artist? I replied "no, but why do you ask"? He basically stated that not many people know about the product and the few people that do purchase it are makeup artists.

Downside: limited supply in this location. I think it's the only place in NYC that sells it, and they sell out very quickly. I'm lucky I grabbed a bottle because it will last me a while. Overall this item is hard to find since it's from France.

Price: $48 at New London Pharmacy for 500 mL. I know it's sold a bit less elsewhere, but at least I know this now, plus there's nothing better than instant gratification :). I'm not one to order items online because I'm never home to pick it up.

Ingredients: water (aqua), peg-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, mannitol, xylitol, rhamnose, fructooligosaccharides, propylene glycol, disodium edta, cetrimonium bromide.

What I've tried in the past for reference:

Shu Uemura cleansing oil: green, pink and white.
Ponds Cold cream: This is a good method if you have super dry skin, but it's a bit time consuming because you're removing cream off your face.
Lancome Bi-facil: which was my HG mu remover for a while, but again I have to wash my face after. 
YSL makeup remover: overpriced and it I just wasn't that impressed.
Trilogy cream cleanser: love this if I wasn't allergic to either the carrot or grapefruit extract. It really leaves your face clean.
MAC makeup wipes: burned my eyelids and made them raw. Talk about a serious chemical burn.

all of these are great, but Bioderma has taken center stage, front and center. <3

Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge +

Hi All!

I seriously apologize for not blogging in the past few months. I've been sent to and from different places due to work, as well as being sick. Anyway, I really had no idea how much work it takes to have and maintain a blog. My work schedule is taking a drastic change too, but it's to your benefit since I'll have more time to blog.

OK, so back to the original intent of this post: Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge.

straight from the Bergdorf Goodman website:

Offering sheer, lightweight coverage, Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe provides a sheer wash of flawless, luminous finish. The formula feels like second skin with a gossamer-like texture. Light-diffusing pigments help fade away lines and instantly impart a renewed radiance and healthy appearance to skin. With SPF 20, Peau Vierge helps guard against the damaging effects of the sun.


• Contains anti-aging powerhouse Retinol, known for its ability to smooth and plump wrinkles from deep below the skin's surface, stimulating collagen cell rejuvenation and bringing elasticity back to skin. 
• Retinol is delivered through a patented and proprietary delivery technology called Syntoc Actif, which encapsulates the Retinol and allows it to safely and effectively penetrate the skin. 
• Traditional over-the-counter products have very poor penetration—less than 2% of active ingredients are actually absorbed. In comparison, with Syntoc Actif, 20 times more Retinoic Acid is absorbed into the deeper skin layers, making it the most effective cosmetic Retinoid treatment on the market. 
• Talc, Fragrance, and Dye-Free.

The Syntoc Actif delivery technology is highly compatible with the skin and easy to metabolize. As a result, it delivers actives more efficiently and effectively, allowing the active ingredients to penetrate deepest layer of the skin where all the action is and deliver Retinol where it is most effective. 


Formula: it's liquid, it's definitely a little shimmery, but the liquid in terms of consistency is very moisturizing, oddly enough. when it's first applied, it's VERY sparkly on your face. I had tried it a few times at the counter at first and I was turned off by the shimmer factor. Then again, this is coming from someone who thinks anything with shimmer is the enemy. I tried it on, and after 10 minutes, the shimmer wasn't as shimmery once settled into the skin. It's definitely a luminous finish, which is something I'm not personally used to.

Another aspect to this tinted moisturizer/treatment is that there are only two shades. Light to Medium (for cool skintones), and Medium to Dark, which is what I have. The medium to dark looks DARK, like MAC NC37 dark. The foundation is self adjusting to your skin. I'm NC25/30 and the color straight from the bottle I told myself "I'll look dirty", but when applied, it actually did adjust itself to my skintone.

This is what it looks like against my NC25 part of my skin. See what I mean when I saw this and thought to myself, "this isn't going to be a good look on me" ha ha. The color is just a smidge darker in person.

Towards the left see how it's shimmery? Thats the foundation semi blended in in order to see how shimmery it is. Just one more swipe with my finger it would be the exact same shade as the inner part of my arm, which is pretty pale.












The price: It's $125. Yes it's expensive, and even I had a hard time justifying the purchase. What made me realize the price isn't "so high" is By Terry has a foundation that's $140 and it doesn't have any skincare benefits.

How it looks:

 

I was wearing the foundation when I wore Tom Fords Smoke Red. My chin is very red and blotchy normally, but this stuff totally covered it. I normally wear medium coverage foundation because the redness on my face is so hard to cover. 

How to apply: I use 1 to 2 pumps to cover my face and my neck, plus dabbing a little extra on the super red areas on my face. I use my fingers, but I would like to use a synthetic foundation brush because it seems like I wouldn't use up as much product. 

SPF factor: for all of you out there asking what's used in terms of SPF, it's 5% Titanium Dioxide, 5% Zinc Oxide.

In terms of what it claims in terms of improving your skin within 7 days: I did have two small pimples forming when I had first purchased it, and using this stuff, they disappeared. My pores shrank a bit, my skin wasn't as blotchy. I don't expect miracles when wearing it, but this stuff did make some difference in my skin. Due to being sick and traveling (and not having it with me) my skin sucks as usual, but I have been wearing it again consistently for the past week and my skin is slowly improving. I'll have to give you an update after 3 months or so with consistent use as to how my skin looks/feels. 

Worth the purchase: yes. I've tried Retin-A and it wrecked my skin and it didn't improve it at all. I love this stuff because it gives you SPF as well. It's nice to know that I'm wearing  a foundation actually has great skincare benefits and improving my skin. I would recommend getting a sample before purchasing it, only because of the $. 

NIA24 Skincare

So this is my review on my current skincare regime for the past 3 months or so.

I purchased this on the recommendation of my Space NK MA. At first I was skeptical because of its claims. What I can say as of recent is now that I'm working during the day, my skin has broken out in serious heat rashes. Working nights for 2 years and BAM! all of a sudden working during the day, my skin broke out like crazy, and my skin was itching.

I do have is redness, acne scarring and large pores (on the sides of my face and T-zone). I don't like my skin for the most part because I'm in my mid twenties and I get pimples. Granted it's not all over my face, but it's enough where it does bother me.

So a bit about NIA24: it's a skincare line that's sold usually in dermatologist's offices. The active ingredient is Niacin, specifically a patented Niacin molecule called Pro-Niacin(TM), that helps  build your skin barrier from the inside-out.

Ok so back to my review: I purchased all of these items listed with their respective ingredients:

Gentle Cleansing Cream: Water, Octyldodecanol, Propylene, Glycol Dipelagonate, Butylene Glycol, Polybutene, Stearic Acid, Cetyle Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Polysorbate 40, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Myristyl Nicotinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Trehalose, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Isopropl Lanolate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Acetyl Hexamethyl Tetralin, Myristica Fragrans (Nutmeg) Kernel Extract, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium PCA, Urea, Polquaternium-51, 1,5,5,9-Tetramethyl-13-Oxatricyclotridecane, Maltol, Phenoxyethanol, Methlyparaben, Propylparaben, Titanium Dioxide (C177891) 

Physical Cleansing Scrub: Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Polyethylene, Clyceryl Stearate, PEG-2 Cocamide, Jojoba Esters, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Coconut Acid, Triethanolamine, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Polyquaternium-39, Myristyl Nicotinate, helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernal Extract, Glycerin, Rosa Canina Flower Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Pentadecalactone, Methyldihyrdojasmonate, Dodecahydro 3a, 6, 6, 9a-tetramethylnaphtho(2,1-b)furan, Myristica Fragrans (Nutmeg) Kernel Extract, Maltol, Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

Skin Strengthening Complex: Water, Myristyl Nicotinate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cyclomethicone, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Ranunculus Ficaria Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Myristica Fragrans (Nutmeg) Kernel Extract, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ceramide 2, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Phospholipids, Ceramide 3, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Tribehenin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 60, Laureth-7, Maltol, 1,5,5,9-Tetramethyl-13-Oxatricyclotridecane, PEG-8, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Polyacrylamide, Oxacyclohexadecen-2-one, BHT, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate. 

I did get free samples of their Intensive Recovery Complex (at Space NK), but it pilled off my face, so I got the Skin Strengthening Complex instead. I did use the Rapid Exfoliating Serum too, but I don't think it did that much for me personally.

So I used the cleanser and moisturizer 2x a day, with the physical scrub 1-2x a week. I also used sunscreen because that's the KEY to this skincare regimen. What's the point of using this stuff if you're not going to protect your new skin cells? Yea, that's basically one of the things you have to be aware of. This system won't work unless you wear sunscreen.

Can I just mention, even though I don't know what most of those ingredients say, but this stuff seriously has made my face so much better ! The skin rashes are gone, my face doesn't break out unless it's the one-three SMALL occasional hormonal pimples (you know, that time of the month). The breakout in pimple/acne reduction has seriously gone down, which is the biggest improvement.

My face isn't as red or as irritated anymore. Granted this stuff is geared towards sun damage, but my skin just looks a LOT happier. Some smoothness improvement, some reduction in redness, and I used to get very nasty breakouts on my chin and neck and I haven't gotten any since using this line. Some of the acne scarring is still lingering, but I know that will take a long time to go away.

I don't expect miracles when it comes to skincare, but this stuff honestly does what it says and a bit more. I'm overall impressed with the line and the results. The one disclaimer I will state is with the Skin Strengthening Complex, your face will feel warm and be flushed (3 degrees warmer kind of feeling) when you use it and the flushing goes down within 5-10 minutes. To be fair, they're known side effects because it's the Pro-Niacin doing its job. :) NIA24 has truly blown me away.