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The Lipstick Page Forums Beauty & Fashion Blog

Posted by Dain, Sunday, July 15, 2007 1:36 AM (Eastern)

Time to start a new tradition! A best of beauty list, because other ones are boring and repetitive, as well as to celebrate the restructuring of our reviews section (still in progress). Feel free to add your own; the most central axiom to beauty products is that YMMV (your mileage may vary). NOTA BENE: These are all products I use myself, with the exception of the La Prairie Retexturizer, which is way too harsh for my delicate skin, but nevertheless is an excellent product.

Above: My new obsession, my HG summerweight moisturizer, Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel, topped with Burt's Bees Repair Serum.

CLEANSER
Why, Cetaphil, of course! I've used this longer than I can properly recall. A simple cleanser is the way to go, in my humble opinion, as it quite literally washes down the drain.

TONER
I need to feel like a toner is more than scented water and alcohol. Dr. Hauschka makes the best toners, like herbal juices, and I love how they smell. The Facial Toner is strangely hydrating for dry skin (I say strangely because it has alcohol in it) and the Clarifying Toner is excellent for oily skin.

MOISTURIZER
I am too finicky about face creams to have found my perfect match yet. Some have the right texture and weight, but the smell may be less than desirable, or vice versa. For now, I have settled for Fresh Rice Face Cream, for its lovely rich (but not too rich) texture and soft apricot scent, though it is grossly overpriced for what it is. At least there are no expectations to defeat, as it claims nothing further than moisture. My favorite lightweight moisturizer is the vitamin-rich, antioxidant-packed Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel, which manages not to be at all occlusive.

TREATMENT
Burt's Bees Repair Serum heals any number of woes without breaking the bank, while the powerful BHA/AHAs of La Prairie Cellular Retexturizing Booster will blast away acne and dull skin (so it works for anti-aging concerns, as well).

SUNSCREEN & SCRUB
I've yet to find ones I really like.

LIP BALM
Dr. Hauschka: all natural, it is rich enough for all but the most chapped lips, light enough to wear with lipstick, protective without being waxy, and soft without being greasy. I also love the beeswax and rose scent.

MAKEUP REMOVER
Bioderma Créaline H2O is really gentle yet effective and leaves no residue, though difficult to find.

To explore next:
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
Bioderma Photoderma MAX Lait
Jurlique Face Wash Cream
Primavera Skincare

Labels: burt's bees, crealine, cream of the crop, dr. hauschka, fresh, jurlique, la prairie, skin

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Posted by Dain, Monday, June 25, 2007 12:15 PM (Eastern)

I have found my new perfume obsession...

It's called Parfumerie Generale, and I want every last bottle. It reminds me of Serge Lutens, in that it's innovative but elegant at the same time. They speak for themselves, so I will not elaborate further. Drool over them at www.luckyscent.com, but I've got my eye on Bois Blond (sold out everywhere! why? I want this! it sounds like my perfect day scent) and Tubereuse Couture (a more accessible Tubereuse Criminelle? SL non-exports are notoriously impossible to track down).

The best skincare endorsements are personal recommendations from models.

After all, no other people in the world depend so much on great skin. Their very livelihood depends on it. After symmetry, great skin is the most important to a pretty face (in fact, if you have both, you automatically have a pretty face, no matter how dull your coloring). The pros in the business maintain a very strict regimen, though skin as fine as Gemma Ward (above) is largely the blessings of youth and genetics. Still, as Mary Greenwell once said, "they take damn good care of their skin". They use the gentlest products, carry makeup remover and moisturizer with them always, and wear no makeup when off-duty (or as little as possible). I've done a bit of research, and here's what I hear is good:

1. Bioderma Créaline H₂0 Cleansing Solution: A dizzying number of models swear by this as the most gentle, effective cleanser/makeup remover. It is not available in the US, but you can buy it at www.leguidesante.com, along with Bioderma's top-of-the-line sunscreen, Photoderm MAX Lait SPF 50+, which is said to beat even Anthelios in wearability. I don't use makeup remover, but I'm starting to think I should, because instead I just rub at my eyes with a towel, and that's a really bad habit. Other cleansers oft quoted: Cetaphil, Lancome Bi-Facil, and Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. No brainers there, they're all gentle industry favorites, and with the exception of Cetaphil, famed makeup removers.
2. They adore Dr. Hauschka. The Cleansing Cream and Rose Day Cream are particularly favored, though neither really worked for me. The Cleansing Cream had some allergen to which I reacted badly, and the Rose Day Cream was much too occlusive. But the Facial Toner is fantastic; it's the only toner I'd use, and Daria Werbowy is a huge fan of the Quince Day Cream, which is much nicer than the Rose in my opinion.
3. There's less of a concensus when it comes to favorite moisturizers. But one seems to emerge, again and again, Embryolisse Lait-Cr*egrave;me Concentré 24-Hour Miracle Cream, which is a very simple, gentle, and effective moisturizer that models swear by to repair "damage" from the shows. I'm dying to try it; I'm still looking for an HG moisturizer, and this sounds like the Cetaphil among moisturizers. Too bad www.leguidesante.com doesn't carry it, because I could buy Crealine, Photoderm, and Embryolisse all together in fell swoop.
4. Plenty of water and rest, as well as a healthy diet, though the latter I remain dubious of; it seems more reflective of the standard model starvation technique. I don't really eat much in terms of vegetables (I love my steak frites with blue cheese, my barbecue ribs, and fried chicken, plus I avoid salads for the most part and am allergic to the vast majority of fruits), and I have pretty fine skin myself.
5. Miscellaneous? Face sprays (for airplanes, not that I've ever noticed that I get that dehydrated when I travel, only dirty), masks and regular exfoliation. Lisa Cant recommends a homemade mask of mashed bananas and whole milk, and that seems worth trying (if I wanted to make it really cosmetic, I'd add honey, oatmeal softened in that milk, wheat germ oil, neroli essential oil, and a tiny bit of white clay).

Speaking of skincare...

It's been day two-and-a-half of the Burt's Bees Repair Serum and it is absolutely fantastic. Truth be told, It is exceedingly premature to rave, as skincare needs at least two weeks to review, but my skin is already much more even and radiant. I am hoping this will rid of clogged pores as well. Small miracles are in order, and thus far, it seems to deliver. I doubt I'd use any of the other products in the kit I bought, but the Repair Serum is definitely worthy of purchase. I think a skincare routine of:

1. Bioderma Créaline H20 Solution, for eye makeup removal, and I think it is about time I invested in a makeup remover. I've always been too lazy, and I have sensitive eyes so I've not had much success with the ones I've tried.
2. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, a bona fide staple for half a dozen years
3. Burt's Bees Repair Serum, as a general soothing / regenerative / nourishing / balancing treatment and lightweight moisturizer
4. Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, as an extra layer of hydration when my skin is dry (the other half of the year), I'm looking for some restorative and simple, and this is extactly that
5. Badger Evolving Balm, as lip balm and general all-purpose emollient

It is obscenely difficult to find Bioderma and Embryolisse in the United States. But that just makes it the more alluring, I suppose. "O, I picked these up at a French pharmacy."

The refinement continues...

An everyday color and a going out color; honestly, does one need more than that? My everyday pick is NARS Gothika, a highly pigmented burnished rose lip gloss. It's a subtle color, but it's just rich and sophisticated enough to be appropriate for the fanciest occasions. It would take me from the weekend to the office to partying to a wedding to the White House, it's that versatile. And for a bolder look, the dizzying absolution of the perfect red, mine Giorgio Armani Armanisilk The Reds Collection #46 Bordeaux (at least, I think it was #46), a vibrant hue of raspberry tinged red, is just that. The ad above, is from The Reds Collection. In my humble opinion ladies, if a lipstick is perfect for you, and both Gothika and Bordeaux are for, it is always perfect, regardless of circumstances. It lifts the spirit, inspires confidence, and looks fabulous. And when you only own two lipsticks, you can feel no guilt for owning the best. Indeed, why should you?

If you were me, what blush would you wear with this? I was thinking NARS Sin or Stila Convertible Color in Orchid (or Rose?). In any case, a cool, berrified rose is the way to go, and both, I think would be a good investment because it would take me ages to finish.

Opalis, redux

The combination of the light but nourishing La Creme, as shampoo+conditioner in one (it's called the "no-poo" technique, for dry hair that needs cleansing without damage), with a little bit of L'Huile on the ends for extra moisture and a wee bit of definition, in a decadent almond-vanilla scent, could not be simpler or more glamorous. And, hopefully, effective. I know that it's just glorified goo (L'Huile is simply macadamia oil, perfume, and preservative), but such glory! It would spiff up any shower instantly.

Eyeshadow addiction has always been a bane for me...

But I've got it real bad for the new Chanel Soft Touch singles, which are heavyweights at $27.50 a pop. But. they. are. magnificent. They're silky, so they're easy to blend, thereby making even expert-level application nearly idiot-proof. They last, which banishes the frustration of wearing the more pastel shades that easily disappear (though oily skin may still prefer to use a shadow base). And they're pigmented and complex (at least the shades I've tried, but I've heard not all of them are), which is a testament to the greatness and universality of a shade. The packaging is bulky, and the shadow inside is miniscule, but alas... they are so beautiful and superior. Popular shades include Safari, Lotus, and Cinnamon, but I've got my eye on Lavande (my dream lilac) and Lotus or Island (as a sort of neutral fleshy shimmer, but I can't decide which would be better). I hope Chanel comes out with sets in this formula.

Labels: badger, beauty notes, bioderma, burt's bees, chanel, crealine, dr. hauschka, embryolisse, giorgio armani, models, nars, opalis, parfumerie generale, skin

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