Showing posts with label Caudalie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caudalie. Show all posts

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Current Skincare Backups

It's not news I'm a huge skincare lover. I believe it's much better to invest in good skincare in order to feel more confident under your own skin, and believe me, you'll be less inclined to splurge on high coverage foundations because you'll find yourself needing less makeup to cover up. Not that there's anything wrong with them, for instance I'm still a huge a huge fan of the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer which is the most full-coverage foundation I own.




If I have backups of something it means I truly love the product. Today I'll be showing you my current backups and give you a brief explanation of why I love them so much.


Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Medi-Spa Peel 

Dr. Dennis Gross' is one of my favorite lines. Skincare is very subjective; aside from things that may work for some may not work for others, sometimes it can take months for a product to show results. Not with Dr. Dennis Gross. His products are, in my opinion, one of the quickest to show results. I cannot live without the Medi-Spa Peels. They're part of my Sunday ritual. Richly soaked in 15 acids, these peels exfoliate the skin revealing firming, plumper, luminous and a more even even-toned. The Peptide Milk that comes with it is delicious and packed with excellent ingredients. 



Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correcting 


Serums have become more popular in the skincare world and I've always been a fan of them.  You'll find them to be pricier than moisturizers, but most serums have a higher number of ingredients that will penetrate the skin at a deeper level. This one by Caudalie is one I've been using for years. It has a milky texture, smells divine, feels lightweight, it's oil free and at the same time fights hyperpigmentation. 


Caudalie Makeup-Removing Cleansing Oil 


Yes, this does a great job at removing makeup, but I prefer to use it as a "skin" cleanser usually in the morning or as a first cleanse at night to breakdown makeup or SPF. It's low in ingredients, has a thick texture that smells like almonds and feels extremely soft on the skin. It doesn't emulsify much, but I feel like it does a great job at cleansing. Most importantly, it's one I often reach for when my skin is congested. With consistent use, it makes my skin clearer. You can shop it here


Sarah Chapman Skinesis Ultimate Cleanse 


This was a splurge while I was at NYC. My friend Rita named this one of her favorite cleansers and I genuinely trust her recommendations, so it's something I needed. I love this because it's a balm but it comes in a pump form, so the ingredients are preserved. One pump of the Ultimate Cleanse is sufficient for my face and neck. Yes, it's pricey, but the ingredients are absolutely delicious. This is like aromatherapy for the skin. I never use this to break down makeup because it is far too luxurious. If you want to give yourself a long facial massage, this is something you should consider investing in. Some of the ingredients include sweet almond oil, beeswax, jojoba, camphor oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, chamomile, neroli, jasmine and rose. It is LUSH. 





Omorovicza Cleansing Foam 


Also a pricey one and I usually don't gravitate towards foam cleansers, but this one is sulphate free, feels creamy, doesn't dry out my skin and a tiny bit goes a very long way. My last tube lasted a year. If you're considering getting this, I advise you to wait for Black Friday or Cyber Monday because their website offers 30% off. I absolutely love the smell and love including it in my cleansing ritual. 



Arcona Cranberry Toner 


This replaced my beloved Caudalie Moisturizing Toner. The Arcona Cranberry Toner is more than just a toner. The cranberry extract helps protect and clarify the skin, contains vitamins, phyto-nutrients and essential fatty acids. It also contains Vitamin E as an antioxidant, as well as omegas 3,6,9 and rice milk. Even after double cleansing, this toner is able to pull more dirt. My skin is left so soft and ready for my next skincare steps. If you get it, remember to shake it before using it. PS: it has a sweet, delicious cranberry scent, so if you don't like the smell of cranberry or sweet scents, you might not like this. 



Dr. Dennis Gross Clinical Concentrate Radiance Booster




Skin doesn't have to feel heavy to achieve radiance. I am obsessed with this booster by Dr. Dennis Gross. You can use it alone before your serum, mix it with your serum or moisturizer or even makeup. The ingredient list is superb and I always notice and immediate difference after applying this. My skin looks uber healthy and naturally glowy. This is for men and women who notice their skin is looking lackluster or dull. Absolutely worth it.  



Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Extra Strength Formula 


I really cannot live without these. If I stop using them, I notice it in my skin - not in a good way. It's not that I break out like crazy, but these peels keep blemishes at bay. It's very important to exfoliate your skin to get rid of dead cells that are laying on the surface of the skin. Think about it - if you have tons of dead skin cells sitting on your skin, they won't allow the rest of your skincare to penetrate properly. My skin has been more even toned, radiant and these peels have literally helped my self-esteem because I feel more comfortable in my own skin. 



Caudalie Beauty Elixir 


I know this contains alcohol, but I have used this product for so many years and I've never had a negative experience with it. If you have really dry skin, I wouldn't recommend it. But it's super refreshing, minty and perfect for these hot months. I also like spraying it when I'm feeling tired, when I'm breaking out (because it seems to help fight my blemishes) or prior to a mask. You can shop it here, and earn MyCaudalie points! 




Dr. Dennis Gross Firming Peptide Milk 


This milk used to only be available if you purchased the Medi-Spa Peels, but luckily Dr. Gross made it available on its own, phew! This milk's texture is exactly like the name suggests - milky. I love using it after using my regular Alpha Beta Peels. The ingredients are amazing - tripeptide-21, collagen amino acids, ceramides, arnica, retinol, coconut water and juice - and the list goes on. This is beautiful to use on its own. It leaves skin feeling so soft and taken care of. You can shop it here



Thanks for reading! I hope you found some good recommendations. Are there any backups you currently have? I'd love to know!

Monday, January 26, 2015

Beating the Hangover Part 2

I've never been a big drinker. To be honest, I only like beer and red wine and hate the taste of anything strong or anything "burning". However, I will have water most of the time when I go out.

Last week, my boyfriend's best friend came to visit and I had a little too much to drink. I had never, ever gone to bed with my makeup on. I woke up at 4am, saw myself in the mirror, cringed (and took off all my makeup) and then was unable to sleep for the rest of the night. I truly felt like shit. Add to that the following cherry on the top: I got my period later that day resulting in excruciating cramps. It was bad. 

That's why I came up with the idea to either a) write a post or b) make a video on "Beating the Hangover". I went with "a".


Tip #1: Stay hydrated.
When you drink alcohol, your body gets dehydrated. It's most likely you'll be feeling nauseous and dizzy the next day. Drink plenty of water. More than usual. 

Tip #2: Cleanse deeply.
I love oil-based cleansers. Oil acts like a magnet trapping dirt, makeup and excess oil. If you went to bed with your makeup on, remove it as soon as you can. I love using the Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil because it doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes (I wear contacts), it doesn't leave an oily film, breaks down all my waterproof makeup and doesn't dry out my skin. I'm already on my fourth bottle. 



 Tip #3: Exfoliate and use your favorite face mask.

Spoil yourself. Exfoliate your skin before using a face mask. The Nude Detox Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash is a treat for the skin. Mix a little bit with water and apply it to your skin using circular motions. It has stabilized vitamin C, so it will instantly brighten the skin, but it's also loaded with hydrating agents and you can actually feel the oils as you're rinsing your skin.

I followed up with the Arcona Tea Tree Mask. I've raved about this mask so much and I still think it's an underrated product. You never hear anyone talking about this yet it's so damn good; so good I'm about to repurchase it for the fifth time very soon. It is minty, refreshing, cooling and a total spa-like product that instantly delivers results. But use a mask that you love. Your skin needs the extra TLC during a horrible hangover!

Tip #4: Add extra weightless moisture to the skin - both eye, face and neck area.
I have been using eye serums since last year and love them. They add extra moisture under the eyes - the area that shows how tired you really are. I have been using the HydraFacial MD ETX Age-Refining Eye Gel and find it moisturizing and tightening. I like to wait a couple of minutes before proceeding to my eye cream, and my go-to for tired times is Sunday Riley Start Over. Some people claim it burns their eyes. Luckily, I don't get this reaction and I love I can apply it on heavily so it acts as an eye mask. This eye cream instantly firms and awakens my eyes.


My skin was so dehydrated that day. I had dry patches on many areas and my skin just felt blah. In the morning I used Tatcha Deep Hydrating Firming Serum because it contains 23-karat gold adds a soft, glowy, undetectable glow to the skin while plumping it. I then sprayed Tatcha Dewy Mist which leads me to...

Tip #5: Don't wear any makeup and let your skin breathe. 

 I find the Tatcha Deep Hydration Serum + Dewy Mist to be the perfect combination for someone with good skin who doesn't like wearing much makeup and just wants the skin to look juicy and healthy. The Dewy Mist has been a favorite for years because it truly gives you "dewy" skin. 

And I don't know about you, but my lips were super dry that day. I suffer from extremely dry, chapped lips in general and my go-to lip balm is the Tatcha Camellia Moisturizing Lip Balm. I actually find it much more effective than Nuxe Reve de Miel.


At night I followed the same routine for my eyes but changed things for the rest of my face. I used HydraFacial MD Antiox-6 which is an antioxidant enriched serum with hyaluronic acid. This product is like water for my skin. It instantly gets rid of dryness and is completely weightless on the skin. I like to use a pump for my face and another one for my neck. I then followed up with the Fresh Seaberry Oil and set it with Caudalie Moisture Recovery Cream. All of these are great for normal to dry skin. 

Tip #6: Get plenty of sleep.
 Go to bed earlier than usual. The sooner you go to bed and the more you sleep, the better you'll feel the day after. 



Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Travel Bag Essentials


I have made it a habit to carry with me minis because there is always that one time I need one of them, a couple or more. The cool thing about carrying a small travel bag in your purse is that no matter what the plans are that day, if they change, you'll have everything you need with you (say you decide to spend the night at a friend's house, or maybe the weather isn't cooperating with your skin and hair). Obviously this bag is customized to my own needs. The purpose of this post is to give you ideas of what to carry with you, not a specific guide of what you need.


Skin: I keep a sample of Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil because it is strong stuff. It will get rid of any waterproof makeup I'm wearing. I also like to keep a small cleanser, in this case Origins Checks and Balances, because I like to double-cleanse. Moisturizing is key to me, both the eye area and the face/neck, so I always make sure I always have a few samples of those in there (Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream, Origins GinZing and High-Potency Night-A-Mins shown in picture). And of course, Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a must in my hand-bag as this instantly refreshes with it's minty scent.

Hair: I love that Dry Bar offers a travel-size of their Detox Dry Shampoo. How clever. This dry shampoo will instantly add volume, freshness while getting rid of oil. Oribe Cote D'Azur is basically perfume for your hair, but a must if you're going on a date or if you've been in a bar or around friends who smoke, gross.

Teeth: Very important. I have the habit of flossing after every meal. I personally cannot stand the feeling of food between my teeth. A toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash always come in handy, especially if you're spending the night outside of home or if your meal at the restaurant has too much garlic.

Miscellaneous: I've worn contacts since the age of nine, yes, nine! I always carry eye drops with me as it is very important to lubricate the eyes throughout the day. And a Q-tip. I always have a Q-tip with me. This is such a handy tool to touch up eye-makeup throughout the day. Say your mascara smudged a bit, or you have, you know, things going on in the inner corner -- don't stick your finger, use a Q-tip.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

New haul + skincare fail!

So you know I got a new camera -- well, actually it was a generous family graduation gift! Anyhow, I love interacting with others, with you but I am no pro at this. I have no idea what I'm doing! Blogging, YouTube... I just try my best to deliver information to you which I hope will be useful. Having said that, I have a new video out. I mentioned an SPF by Murad which I need to urgently warn you about: it broke me out bad. Turns out (thank you, Rita for this information) that it contains two very comedogenic ingredients: isopropyl isostearate and sweet almond oil. 

Rita, please come with me when I shop for skincare. Check her out by the way. She's a skincare expert and a sweetheart. 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Updated Skincare Collection: Tatcha, REN, Caudalie, Skinceuticals, Bioderma, Darphin + more

You know I love skincare and you know I love to share my thoughts with you. My friend Fiorella Basso, a long-time friend and graphic designer teamed up with me again to kindly film me in her space and create this video. I hope you find it informative. 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Empties #3




Products Mentioned
- Flents Quiet Time NRR 33 (40 pair - earplugs) 
- Veet Facial Wax Strips 
- L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes
- O.B. Pro Comfort Silk Touch Tampons
- Up & Up Floss (Target brand)
- Serge Norman Meta Shampoo Silk / Conditoner
- 100% Pure Coconut Nourishing Body Cream
- Elf Shine Eraser
- Kerastase Specifique Dermo Calm Shampoo
- Tresemme Nourishing Rituals Liquid Gold Shine Therapy
- Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum
- Caudalie Vinosource Moisture Recovery Cream
- Dior Dissolvant (nail polish remover)
- Aura Cacia Relaxing Lavender Shower Tablets


PS: I'll be blogging again soon!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

The Princess Tag

About a month ago, Tati created the "Princess Tag" which featured all her favorite high-end products that make her feel like a princess. I selected six products in my collection that, well, make me feel like a princess. 

Hope you enjoy.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Current Night Time Skin Routine


Hi dolls! Today's post will be an updated version of my night-time skin routine. I'm constantly testing and rotating products, but these are the ones I've been using for the last three months and I've been loving them. Enjoy!

Monday, January 28, 2013

January Empties

Hi everyone!

I hope you've all had a great Monday and beginning of the week.

Today I have my "January Empties" for you - One hair product and five skincare products!




And while I am typing this.... I am ....


Yep, eating left-over Christmas M&M's. I told you I was addicted!

Now it's time to get serious! I will give you my in depth opinion about these products individually, and I'll tell you whether I would re-purchase these products or not. 

If you're interested, continue reading!