The limited edition Lancome Vert Tendresse ($49), from the spring 2012 collection.
Available now at Lancome counters and also online.
Green Is Good
lancome
Lancome La Roseraie
Lancome La Roseraie, $42. Available now at Lancome counters and online.
4 Fast Reviews of Pricey New Skincare Products from SK-II, Lancôme, Estée Lauder and Josie Maran
Here are some of the skincare products I’ve put through the old testing ringer lately. Most of them are fairly new, like released within the past couple of months or so, but one of them, Josie’s Argan Cleansing Oil, came out back in summer.
The Cleansing Oil also happens to be the only one of these that sells for less than $80, so these are things up in the premium category, which, one would hope, means that they’re all incredibly awesome, right?
Let’s find out. 🙂
SK-II Skin Signature Eye Cream ($110 for a 0.5-oz. jar)
Luxury line SK-II is hooked on Pitera. It’s the brand’s signature ingredient, and it appears in everything across their entire line.
So what is Pitera?
In the company’s words, it’s a “…singular blend of vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids that work together to help restore the appearance of your skin’s outer layers, by enabling the skin’s natural surface rejuvenation process to function at its prime.”
Ok, but what is it?
Well, it’s derived from yeast fermentation, and its history traces back about 30 years to a Japanese saké brewery…
No, fo’ reals! That’s when a scientist noticed that the hands of workers at the brewery looked surprisingly beautiful and young. A bunch of research later, a team of scientists that had been trying to get to the bottom of it think they figured out why, and they packaged up the secret formula and called it Pitera.
SK-II touts it as a “miracle water” used to regenerate, hydrate and restore balance to skin, and it’s in their new Signature Eye Cream, which hit counters last month.
It costs an arm and a leg, but it’s probably one of the most hydrating high-end eye creams I’ve ever tried. I’m serious — it’s crazy moisturizing! And it layers well beneath makeup, too.
I’m still waiting to see proof of its purported power to eliminate under-eye circles and firm the skin, but my normally parched eye area feels hella hydrated when I’m using this and looks fresh and dewy all day long.
For straight up moisture, this stuff is tops. Of course, it’s also brutally expensive.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Night Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck Creme ($80 for a 1.7-oz. jar)
The actual application of Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Night brings me great joy. There’s something so sweet, soothing and comforting about the rosy apple scent that reminds me of hugging my mom.
Part of the line’s new Lift Firming/Sculpt Collection of moisturizers and treatments, it’s not the most moisturizing cream I’ve ever used, but I sure do like the fluffy texture and the scent.
It’s supposed to tighten and firm aging skin; that’s the big selling point, but I haven’t really noticed much in either respect. I do like slathering it on at night, though, as part of my bedtime ritual, on account of the scent, the texture, how quickly it absorbs and because it doesn’t leave behind a sticky layer of goo.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
[Continue reading…]
Lancôme Must Have Red the Book on Classic Color and Shine Before Creating Mini Les Vernis in Shade 102
Somewhere out there is a bottle of Lancôme’s Mini Le Vernis in Shade 102 looking for a new nail to call home. One of five nail lacquers in the new Lancôme The Golden Hat Foundation Holiday 2011 Collection, it’s a true red-lovers dream, with a creamy finish that matches L’Absolu Rouge Lipcolor in Caprice to a T.
One coat delivers rich, opaque coverage and Swarovski-like shine, and if that wasn’t enough, the brush is just the right width, with firm bristles that don’t splay, making the brush easy to control.
[Continue reading…]
Lancôme Poudre Lumiere in Golden Hat: This Golden Hat Highlights Lighter Lovelies
Poudre Lumiere in Golden Hat, $40
“Sweetie, have you seen my golden hat?”
“Yes, babe, I think so. I think I saw it downstairs on an illuminating powder.”
Um, how pretty is Poudre Lumiere in Golden Hat ($42)? It’s the illuminating highlighting powder in Lancôme’s new The Golden Hat Foundation Holiday 2011 collection, and I absolutely love the design on that pan.
Designed to make skin shimmer and sparkle, but in a quiet way, it can be worn on the cheeks or all over the face.
The first time I opened the compact, I thought, “Glitter!” Big flecks of it on the two shades in the pan — a cool, pale gold and a cool, pale pink. The big flecks appear to be part of an overspray, though, because beneath the uber-shimmery top layer sits colors with a soft, subtle sheen, as opposed to a high-intensity glitter shimmer.
“Lancôme is thrilled to announce its support of the Golden Hat Foundation, a non-profit created by beloved Ambassadress Kate Winslet to raise funds to better the lives of children living with autism. To support Kate Winslet’s inspiring philanthropic endeavor, Lancôme has worked with her to create a stunning holiday collection that brings to life the spirit and message of the charity.”
For a Limited Time, the 1940s Are Back: Get Pin-Up Girl Lips with Lancôme’s Holiday 2011 Collection Lipstick in Caprice
“Nights in red satin…” Wait — is that how that song goes? I forget. 🙂
A true red with a satiny finish, L’Absolu Rouge in Caprice ($29), one of the five lipsticks in The Golden Hat Foundation color collection for Lancôme Holiday 2011, has that 1940s pin-up girl vibe, doesn’t it? — like the kind of red a hottie might have worn back then with winged liner, victory rolls and fishnet stockings?
Everything about this limited edition lippie says seduction to me, from the racy packaging — and I love how the magnetic cap clicks into place like the caps on Burberry’s lipsticks — to the way it feels like a stolen kiss on my lips.
“Lancôme is thrilled to announce its support of the Golden Hat Foundation, a non-profit created by beloved Ambassadress Kate Winslet to raise funds to better the lives of children living with autism. To support Kate Winslet’s inspiring philanthropic endeavor, Lancôme has worked with her to create a stunning holiday collection that brings to life the spirit and message of the charity.”
Hats Off to Lancôme for The Golden Hat Foundation Holiday 2011 Collection
I think it’s super cool when celebs use their influence to do positive things, especially when those things help children. 🙂
This year for the holidays, Lancôme and longtime face of the line, actress Kate Winslet, teamed up to create a limited edition 11-piece color collection for lips, nails and cheeks, with part of the proceeds going to support The Golden Hat foundation, a non-profit Kate founded to help better the lives of children living with Autism.
Kate started The Golden Hat after narrating a documentary for HBO called A Mother’s Courage: Talking Back to Autism, which follows a mother’s journey to understanding her son’s challenges with severe Autism. The foundation exists to raise awareness and funds to provide education, skills training and therapeutic activities to help autistic children communicate more effectively. Keli, the boy in the film, writes a poem he calls The Golden Hat, from where the foundation gets its name.
Available now on counters and also online, The Golden Hat Foundation Holiday 2011 collection features pieces for faces, lips and nails in gold, pink and red, all dressed to thrill in elegant black and gold packaging. On the face and lip products, Kate’s signature (nice handwriting, K!) appears below the logo for The Golden Hat.
Stay tuned for reviews and more details soon, but while you wait, here’s a peek at three of the pieces from the launch…
L’Absolu Rouge Lipcolor in Caprice, $29
Mini Le Vernis in Shade 102, $15
[Continue reading…]
Lancôme Doll Lashes and Ragdoll Kitties
Wait — so you’re telling me that blue-eyed baby Ragdoll kitties have absolutely nothing to do with the new Lancôme Doll Lashes collection?
Are you sure? Because the word “Doll” appears right there in each product’s name.
Oh, well. Leave it to a cat lady to just hope/assume that Lancôme was referring to adorably docile Ragdoll cats. 🙂
Although I’m a little bummed that felines didn’t play a role in the six-piece eye collection, I still like the idea behind the release — coordinating eye makeup to create a bright, wide-eyed look.
The collection, available now at Lancôme counters and also online, centers around the new Hypnôse Doll Lashes ($25), a volumizing mascara designed to create a full lash look, but the accompanying eyeshadow quints and liners also look like fun, especially if you like pinks, taupes and purples.
Here are some quick swatches. Have a look, and let me know what ya think.
1. Color Design Doll Lashes Edition Eye Brightening All-In-One 5 Shadow & Liner Palette in Pink Envy, $48
[Continue reading…]