1. I haven't yet bought myself a bottle of the Lancôme Bi-Facil ($24), the longstanding industry favorite that spawned a million and a half counterfeits. Intellectually, I understand the importance of speedy, effective, and thorough eye-makeup removal, lest one rub and tear, but practically, I wear very little makeup of late, and so justify my laziness.


2. Though initially underwhelmed by Primavera's Refining Exfoliating Cleanser ($42), I have found myself implicated by continued use. I have become partial to its odd, fermented organic sugar-flower scent, and as an exfoliant it is effective but gentle enough to use everyday even on my delicate skin. Even the expense, spaced out over four months, is justified by its quality. Most cleansing milks/lotions from natural companies are too occlusive to rinse off properly, but this one is as silky and water-soluble as Cetaphil, which has since been gathering dust. It is a simple product, a mild exfoliant cum cleanser, but in my experience the simple products are the hardest of all to find, while hyped junk is literally forced down one's throat by overzealous SAs. It just keeps flakes and clogged pores at bay (the former better than the latter), while managing its requisite duties as cleanser with equal éclat, and if it smells good and has good moral fiber (100% organic and fair trade!), so much the better.


3. Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel ($134) is a queer product. It has alcohol and oils, which are decided no-no's according to the world according to beauty editors, advice I have long ago disregarded as nonsense. It smells like a vase of roses gone stale, and yet I find its fragrance utterly delicious, nature's cocktail. It runs amok claims of miracles as irresponsibly as a French label, and a straight run of the ingredients reveals a garden of pure, natural antioxidants and oils (evening primrose, ginseng, gingko biloba, licorice root, rose, matricaria, marshmallow, echinacea, calendula, violet, heartsease, daisy, chickweed, black elder, rose hip, jojoba, aloe vera, plus lactic acid, ascorbic acid, retinyl palmitate, tocopheryl acetate), so one would assume an light vitamin-rich hydrating serum, which is exactly what this is, no miracle. It has slight brightening properties, which are instantaneous, and over time, it seems to balance the skin to a healthy, normal state, which has obviated the need for the reparative properties of the Burt's Bees face oil featured originally. A little goes a long way, my $134 for 3.4 oz bottle should last a year. In summer, it is enough hydration on its own, in winter, a cleanly built cream will do.


4. And speaking of cleanly built creams, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré ($20) is simply the best, with a highly absorptive, velvety texture and a no-nonsense formula that soothes, hydrates, prepares skin for makeup, without any nasty ingredients intended for cosmetic effects, e.g. silicones, and absolutely no hype save excellence alone. Truly, a rarity in the skincare industry. Yet another example of a simple preparation, well done, this time at very little expense.

Labels: beauty notes, embryolisse, jurlique, lancome, primavera, skin