The Ultimate Skincare: Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Re-Creation Face Serum & Cream

Whenever I think of expensive high-end skincare, my mind normally conjures up jars from La Mer, La Prairie Sisley, and Naturra Bisse.

But this year, another brand has entered into the league of the thousand dollar cream market. This time, its maker is none other than Estee Lauder with its own top of the range skincare line. 

Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Re-creation Face Serum and Cream Set

Launched earlier this year (March) in the American market and making its way over to our shores in mid-April, this has got to be one of the most expensive cream of the year. The range consist of a Face cream and Night Serum duo (A$1350 for the set) and an eye balm and night serum for eyes duo(A$550).

What it Claims (edited for conciseness): 
A 24-hour anti-ageing skin care system capable of unleashing your skin's natural power to reveal skin that appears firmer, more luminous and younger thanks to a winning combination of scientific excellence, ancient wisdom and the ocean." An elixir of nourishing extract and cushion and comfort skin. It includes a selection of highly refined precious oils and lips from plants and naturally derived ingredients to infuse skin with the extra rich, vital hydration at night and precious oils provide skin with incomparable smoothness, radiance and silky comfort for a sensuous pampering experience. Skin feels more supple replenished and luxuriously comforted and receives the most exceptional care and looks more youthful than ever.

Breaking it down, it sounds like this cream and serum set delivers exceptional smoothing properties and helps with delaying the signs of ageing whilst giving you a pleasant experience at the same time. Fortunately, I got to find out first hand what exactly it can do for my skin as I was given the opportunity the try this duo over the past couple of months.

As you would expect of a high-end product, the packaging is instantaneously captivating - elegant, luxurious, extravagent and in all honesty, looked like it has a glowing halo with its dark clear acrylic casing within a gold bottle and jar, and gold trim and lids.

Let’s look at the key ingredients that it contains (as this was a sample and not the retail product, I unfortunately don't have the full ingredients listing to share with you).

The Face Serum

The night serum is a wonderful blend of light oil that skin readily drinks up. It contains

• Karanja or Honge Oil (which is cold pressed from the seed of a native tree of India), used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for its healing antiseptic, anti-inflammatory properties, high in essential fatty acids that provides excellent anti-aging benefits.
• Evening primrose oil which is again a fabulous oil that sinks into skin quickly to nourish and hydrate with its high concentration of gamma linolenic acids to renew skin. 
• Padina, an extract from the brown algae from the Mediterranean which purports to help the calcium in skin protect cells to help with prevent the premature ageing and death of cells. 

The Face Cream

The velvety luxe and light emollient face cream that can be used day or night contains

• An in-house patented protein known as Glacial BioExtract (phormidium persicinum) is extracted in the pristine Antatctic ocean that has properties to help boost skin elastin production as well as provide perfect hydration. 
• Algae extract provides skin repair properties to renew and protect. 
• Amino acid EGT and laminaria digitata extract (aka silketare) derived from a sea plant help to provide energy to skin cells to support its healthy function.

How did it perform
I’m not going to lie, I love this face cream and serum duo. It glides on like a dream and I only use the tiniest amount (trying to make my precious set last as long as possible).

At night I dispense about 3 drops to use on my entire face (one of each cheek and third on the forehead)and follow up with 3 tiny smears of the cream onto the same area.

It provides the perfect amount of hydration and despite the serum being oil based, gives my face a matte finish without that shine you normally associate with using oil based products. It's like a soft focus lens has been cast on the skin to give it that silky smooth texture.

The cream is light, silky and absorbs into skin quickly without any residue or feeling of greasiness.

Scent wise, both products has a beautiful and delicate creamy green floral blend that is made up of lotus, hyacinth, cyclamen and orchids blended with tiger lilies and warm woody sandalwood to create to sensual experience. I normally don’t like too much scent in my face products but this cream and serum is not overpowering and doesn't irritate skin (even on broken skin) so I make an exception to this.

I actually love the scent so much that I would probably buy the bottle of the fragrance if they made it available.

The next morning after using, skin is amazingly smooth – it literally gets transformed to the realms baby’s bum smoothness. And no matter how bad the texture my skin was the day before, the transformation the next day is incredible with more refine and smoother texture. To get this sort of change with a single use is incredible as it normally takes at least a week or more for other products to achieve.

Continued use of the serum and cream set leaves my skin feeling very balanced, with the right amount of hydration and is plump and firm, fine lines are softened around the eyes. All the dullness, dryness and pesky dry patches on the side of the face that seems to never go away in the winter month have all disappeared. (hello my new glowy winter skin!)

Note: make sure you use a water-based primer with the face cream during the day as it causes the product to ball up with dimethicone based primers.

I also noticed that it also helps with healing – I applied the serum on a bad blister burn on my arm and it accelerated the healing process and helped to minimised the scarring which is slowly fading after 2 months. 

With this skincare set, I had to unlearn my years of needing to layer products as my skin is happy with the serum or face cream on its own and estatic when they are used together. And there is literally no need for any other creams or serums at all (other than sunscreen during the day) as it just delivers all the right properties we all look for in the pursuit for youthful skin – hydration, plumping, smoothness, firmness and improved clarity.

I really want to say my experience was psychological and imaginary else because I was secretly hoping the product won't deliver and I don’t develop a need for it. Alas, it has surpassed my expectations and works astonishingly well - too well in fact that I'm very attached to it and think my skin now depends on it to look its best. But with its price, I’m very torn - it is hideously expensive and costs what most would have to pay for a month’s worth of mortgage interest and will last only 4-5 months (6 if you are stretching out its use like me). Sigh, if only I have won last week's lottery.

If you can afford the splurge and indulgence (lets be honest, not many of us can), you skin will never look any better. Otherwise just live in ignorant bliss and look for multiple products that could give similar effects for a less and without the guilt.

RRP A$1,350 | US$950 for the Face cream and serum set at selected Estee Lauder counters and online. If you are travelling to the US, definitely look it up there.
This featured product was provided for consideration.

Skincare Series: Hydration Booster for Winter

Are you one to change skincare with the season? Skin being exposed to different environmental conditions need different protections and with the dry, cold weather in Melbourne, I like switching to slightly richer and more hydrating facial and body creams.

Here are my favourites for this winter season:

L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Cream 50ml – RRP A$82

This cream sinks straight in, provides all day hydrating and works a treat as a rich yet non-greasy day cream over treatment serums (I even use it as a night cream sometimes because it’s rich enough) and suits all skin types particularly those with extremely dry skin. It smells of a bouquet of fresh field flowers and leaves a lovely silky finish on skin.

It contains the Immortelle essential oil (called the immortal flower because the petals doesn't lose colour even when it is dried or dies) to stimulate micro-circulation, increase collagen production and and has good anti-aging properties.

This facial cream is now in its 10th anniversary with a new improved formulation and continues to be one of L’Occitane’s best sellers that will give smoother, firmer skin.

Tip: remember to use on the neck and décolletage for silky soothe skin there too

Available at David Jones, selected Myer stores and L'Occitane online.

We all know by now our skin recharges overnight whilst we sleep so it’s worthwhile investing in products that give it a boosting hand. 

Clinique Turnaround overnight radiance moisturizer 50ml - RRP A$90

This multi-tasker does exactly that by gently exfoliating the skin and increasing cell-turnover (salicylic acid in a time release system and chestnut seed extract) to reveal clearer tone and complexion.

Emollient and rich but not greasy, Clinique Turnover Overnight Radiance Moisturizer works to give intense hydration and facial-like results while you sleep. Not only does it provide that extra hydration boost (hyaluronic acid, hydroxyethyl urea and trehalose) at night without the grease to make skin is brighter and more even in tone after a week’s use, and within a month, I’m seeing smooth velvetly skin that is all plumped up, clear and radiant.

Avaliable at Clinique counters in Myer and David Jones store and Clinique online.  I wasn't provided the product packaging so don't have the ingredients listing for this moisturiser.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 30ml - RRP A$59

On alternating nights I use this elixir of pure botanicals and essential oils (rosehip, evening primrose, jojoba and rosemary leaf oil). With a light lavender (from the essential oil) and faint squalene (plant-based from olives) scent, it is lightweight and readily absorbs into the skin to leave only a light sheen on the skin and fixes any dry patches, plumps up skin and helps to replenish lost lipids in skin.

Skin is soft, supple and hydrated after two uses and after a month of continued use, I notice faster he I use it in place of my night time moisturiser after applying treatment serums and within a week notice plump, supple and brighter skin.

Available at Kiehl's counters in selected Myer and David Jones stores and Kiehl's online.

Grown Rosa Damascena Acai & Pomegranate Intense Body Cream 120ml - RRP A$29

One of my favourite body moisturiser, it is intensely hydrating but non-tacky and leaves a silky dry finish on skin once absorbed. The cream forms a light shield on skin to help improve the skin's barrier function to increase skin hydration.

It also has a light pleasant orange vanilla scent and enriched with rose oil, pomegranate and acai extract to help improve skin firmness and replenish lost essential fatty acids back into skin. I love rubbing this cream into rough areas like elbows and knees as well as all over the arms and legs for immediately soft, smooth skin.

Available in selected Myer and pharmacies - check here for stocklist and Grown online.

So whether you live in freezing southern states or warmer northern regions, the winter months brings on dryer weather and your skin will need a hydration boost. Be sure to look at your current skincare regime to see what you can introduce to give it that extra level of moisture.


Products featured were provided for consideration.

New HG: SK II Signs Up-lifter for Poreless Bouncy Skin

Holy grail or HG items are products that just work for you. Like your best friend, they don't come by often and you cherish them when they enter your life. They are products that never lets you down; the thing you can turn for failsafe amazing results every time.

Now everyone has different HG items because we all have different preferences, skin conditions and live in different environments. This means that a product that is someone’s HG may not be yours because it doesn’t work as well for you. But often, it’s a safe bet that HG products are amazing products that work for a large majority of people.

Last week I raved and sang the praises of my HG serum, Bio-effect. Today, I want to introduce to you another HG serum I’ve discovered when I ventured into the land of SK II.

I was first acquainted to the brand when I bought my first starter kit 2 years ago that contained their renowned facial treatment essence (the one with commercial about the old Japanese ladies brewing sake having amazingly soft and smooth hands because they were constantly in constant with the active ingredient pitera from the brewery). I was sold on story after its first run.

I used the set on and off for a month and although I enjoyed it and noticed nice soft skin, I didn’t think there was anything magical about it.

So I’m delighted that this latest product I’ve tried from SK II is more than magical for me.

SK II Signs Up-Lifter
Description:
Intensive Lifting Serum. Firms. Tones. Enhances moisture resiliency. A powerful anti-aging serum that targets sagging contours and combines Pitera*4 - an extremely concentrated form of Pitera, firming humectant technology, vitamins B3, E and Pro-Vitamin B5, Dermalink Dual Peptide Crithmum Maritimum and Brown Sea Algae. Rapidly tightens the skin in three dimensions through intense moisture. Improves skin's elasticity and energises its look.

Ok the copy writing sounds very fluffy but don’t all these beauty products make impossible claims most of the time?

• This serum is quite thick, emollient and almost scentless (it has an indistinct scent).
• It spreads very well on skin, meaning that a little pea size amount will cover quite a large surface area of the face. Two pea-size amounts and my whole face is done and I might dab a little bit more around the outer corner of my eye area.
• It does contain silicone (dimethicone) which gives it the silky texture and upon it being absorbed, my skin instantly feels like velvet and is cushiony soft without any signs of greasiness.
• I don’t know what the business is with the skin tightening in three dimensions in the description (huh are we in sci-fi land?) but honestly, my skin the next day is firmer and fresher looking in just one night. It definitely has got the WOW factor happening.
• Now I’m not that easily impressed but after 3 days use, I noticed that the pores on my cheeks which were previously quite enlarged have shrunk in appearance. I know pores don’t have muscles so can’t shrink per se but they just don’t appear as prominent and my skin is so much more refined and hardly noticeable, and this is after washing my face where I have nothing on.
• Another week of use and I feel the elasticity of my skin has improved a lot – not only does it feel firm and soft but, there a bouncy resilience that make me think I have teenage skin again! Oh and I look airbrushed and virtually poreless!
• Now the price tag isn’t cheap at A$210 a bottle, but for such dramatic results and in such short space of time, I think it’s an investment-worthy bottle of miracle.

So Bio-effect – you have been fantastic but I’ve found something more amazing and I’m breaking off our relationship with you. SKII Signs Up-Lifter is my new love and HG and it's even slightly less expensive (it’s all relative here people, the unit pricing makes this cheaper).

For firm, velvety supple skin with bounciness and the benefit of even toned skin that gives pore-less looking results in just weeks, then this is it. This is my HG and power product.

RRP A$210 | US$225 - 40g at SKII counters and online at AdoreBeauty for Australians (another rare occasion where Aussie prices are slightly less than US pricing)!

What is your HG product that you use everyday?
This featured product was provided for consideration.

Holy Grail Product: BioEffect EGF Serum

This week I’ve decided to write up a skincare series and dedicate it to all the products that I’ve been using over the last few months and share with you my experiences with them.

I’ll start by introducing you one of the cult product that took Europe, Australia and the rest of the world by storm in 2011.

Bio Effect - EGF Serum 

Description:
BioEffect EGF Serum is a revolutionary new skin care product based on the latest developments in molecular biology. Contains EGF, a natural cellular activator enhancing nautural rejuvenation of the skin. Improves complexion and renews youthful glow. For firmer skin, more even skin tone and reduction of visible fine lines and wrinkles.

This innocent clear looking viscous serum hails from Iceland and packs a serious punch. The first thing you will notice when you decide to take one of these bottle home is the price. At an eye-watering A$180 per 15ml, it’s one of the most expensive skincare products I’ve ever come across.

There are only 9 ingredients in this product. The theory is simple. No fillers, additives or perfumes. Just the active ingredients in an aqueous base for maximum efficacy.

The star ingredient in Bio effect is EGF or epidermal growth factors. In layman’s term, this is a cellular activator that stimulates growth and cellular activity of skin cells. What sets it apart from traditional EGF is that this is plant based, extracted using genetic technology from barley plants that are fed with pure spring waters of Iceland as opposed to extraction from animals or bacteria sources (eg. the snail slime EGF products popular in the Korean and Asian markets – ewww!).

A little bit more on EGF –these proteins are already naturally occurring in skin so what you are doing is adding to your body’s own natural source because your skin decreases its production of EGF with age. Bioeffect gives skin a booster dose to help with the renewal and maintenance of healthy skin cells.

There is just 0.1% of the EGF in the serum but it's potent (and deemed by the scientists to be the most efficient concentration)! Scientific studies (Efficacy report 2011 Iceland) have demonstrated that EGF plays an extensive role in skin regeneration and wound healing by signalling epidermal skin cells to produce elastin and collagen to replicate and form at an increased rate

Because the product is as pricey as gold, I only use my little 3ml vial sample on my most troubled areas – my eyes at night very sparingly dispensing one droplet per eye. When using this product, it’s advised to not layer with other products as it might interfere with its efficacy.

The serum is a clear scentless liquid that quickly absorbs into skin using light patting motion without any residue. It hydrated the skin well even though I had to stop myself applying other products on top because of its lightnesss.

I had no reaction to my skin using this product but know of people who have broken out with milia from it's use so I do advise trying to get your hands on a sample vial to try fir yourself first where possible.

After about 4 days of use, I started to notice that my eyes looked fresh in the morning without much puffiness. The fine expression lines are also plumped up and less visible. I had to really crinkle up my face to see them again – Impressive.

After 2 weeks use, I just notice the skin around the eye area brighter, the dark circles are still there but not as dark. In 4 weeks, the pigmentation spots around the eye area which have been a large concern were also lighter in colour. Skin is smooth, plumped and there is that youthful glow around my eyes. I honestly think this product turned the clock back 3-4 years on my eye area and can only imagine what it could do to the rest of my face had I also used it on those areas.

I want to run out and buy the full bottle except the price is quite prohibitive. If used on the entire face, the 15ml won’t last more than 6 weeks for me. I think I’ll invest in this serum in my 40s but for the time being, I’m going to search for a more wallet-friendly alternative and also start buying a lotto ticket so that I can afford to buy this product sooner!

To date, Bioeffect has been one of my most impressive serum tried in 2011. It is a wonderful moisturiser but that's not what impresses me as you can get this with other products. I want to drench my whole face in it because it is very effective and gives me radiant youthful, line diminished skin and really delivered on its claims. If you want to treat those skin concerns effectively without resorting to medical procedures, then I whole-heartedly recommend this 'miracle-like' product.

RRP 15 ml at A$180 | US$210 at BioEffect online in Australia and US and £125.00 in Boots stores in the UK.
*Gasp* for once something is cheaper in Australia!
A sample vial of this product was provided for consideration. I also have another vial from one of the beauty boxes.

Review: Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

Hyper-pigmentation has recently been an issue with me. I’m not sure whether it’s caused by hormonal imbalances, inadvertent sun exposure or some other external aggravators but I’m finding more tiny pigmentation marks appearing around the eye area this year. That is why I’m always on the lookout for products that promises to address pigmentation and even out skintone.

Having won Marie Claire's 2011 Prix De'Excellence International Award and garnering high praises everywhere else, I was very curious to try Clinique's re-formulated 'damage eraser'.

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector - 30ml

• Contains patent pending CL-302 complex which combines 5 ingredients to address pigmentation: Dianella Ensifolia, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Blackout Yeast Extract which addresses pigmentation by gently brightening skin and glucosamine and Salicylic Acid to normalise skin pigmentation over production and to help soften skin and increase cell turnover.  Other star ingredients which also tackle pigmentations are Acetyl glucosamine and grapefruit extract, another skin brightener to deliver a powerful anti-pigmentation punch. 
• Is a light milky fluid with a pleasant scent, it absorbs easily and leaves no visible sheen or grease. You hardly realise it was there if not for skin being so much smoother and softer to the touch afterwards. 
• Performs well with fading scar marks – my blemish marks from hormonal outbreaks were gone in 1 week when they normally take 3 or 4 weeks to fade on its own. 
• Works equally well to prevent further darkening of freckles, sun spots or pigmentation. It really stops those marks on its tracks. 
• Lightens existing pigmentations - after 4 weeks of daily use, the newly formed pigmentations are lighter and barely visible and are invisible under light makeup. The older pigmentation spots are slightly lighter, but I haven’t notice a big difference to say WOW yet. Skintone is definitely brighter and more even throughout . 
• Treated early, this serum will definitely lighten and fade pigmentation spot and dark marks till they are barely visible. Whilst it won’t completely erase the older dark pigmentation marks, they do become lighter. 

In a nutshell:
This is now my go-to daily serum for hydration with the added surety that it's slowly helping to fade my existing pigmentation. I highly recommend this serum if you have pigmentation concerns and want to gently fade without irritations to skin that other more aggressive products may cause.

Ingredients:

Water, dimethicone, isododecane, cyclopentasiloxane, polysilicone-11, butylene glycol, ascorbyl glucoside, peg-10 dimethicone, curcuma longa (turmeric) root extract,oryza sativa (rice) bran extract, citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel extract, hordeum vulgare (barley) extract\extrait d'orge, triticum vulgare (wheat) germ extract, betula alba (birch) bark extract, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, dimethoxytolyl propylresorcinol, scutellaria baicalensis root extract, morus bombycis (mulberry) root extract, trametes versicolor extract, saccharomyces lysate extract, yeast extract\faex\extrait de levure, peg-6, tromethamine, salicylic acid, polysorbate 20, cholesterol, isohexadecane, propylene glycol dicaprate, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seedcake, caffeine, tocopheryl acetate, acetyl glucosamine, simethicone, glycyrrhetinic acid, polysorbate 80, sodium hyaluronate, di-c12-18 alkyl dimonium chloride, sodium rna, squalane, sodium sulfite, sodium metabisulfite, caprylyl glycol, hexylene glycol, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, acrylamide/sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymer, disodium edta, phenoxyethanol, yellow 6 (ci 15985), yellow 5 (ci 19140)

RRP A$92 at Clinique counters now.
This product was provided for consideration.

Review: Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator Serum

If one your main skin concerns is uneven skintone and dull complexion, and you hate relying on makeup to make your skin glow, then this product may just be the thing for you.

Launched in July, this latest skincare promises to dramatically reduce the appearance of uneven skintone. Does it live up to these claims?

Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator Serum

• Boast tri-optic technology (read: light reflecting particles and colour correctors) that diffuses light to gives skin an even and immediate luminous pearlescent sheen. The brighteners here work subtly to give you a soft glow, it's very natural looking without any sign of the makeup look. LIKE! 
• Contains a cocktail of ingredients that treat the 3 main contributors to uneven skintone: skin irritations causing redness and blotchiness, pigmentation, and free-radicals stressing skin. Let's take a closer look at the key ingredients lineup: 
• Ascorbyl glucoside, and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, both forms of vitamin C that brighten skin and address pigmentation
• resveratrol containing Japanese knotweed extract a powerful free-radical scavenger and another skin brightener 
• Acetyl glucosamine helps fight and address pigmentation.
• Grapeseed extract, licorice and Scutellaria Baicalensis for anti-allergen, anti-inflammatory properties to calm, soothe redness and irritations prevent flare ups. 
• Antioxidant cocktail of rosemary extract, apple extract, pomergrante juice, and Nordihydroguaiaretic a potent anti-oxidant to protect skin from environmental stresses. 
The ingredients in this product is indeed impressive. DOUBLE LIKE!
• Smells divine with a sparkling citrus note that refreshes and awaken, the slipperly fluid readily absorbs into skin with no stickiness or greasy feeling. In fact skin feels like velvet silk afterwards thanks to the dimethicone.

light reflecting particles to give a pearlescent sheen

• The next morning after use, I genuinely noticed that my skintone is even and brighter, as if I’ve had plenty of sleep and am having a good skin day glow. Using it twice a day for 3 weeks, along with my 15% vitamin C serum, I have seen a dramatic improvement to the newer light pigmentation marks (they are no longer visible unless I squint closely to examine them). There is however, no visible difference to older pigmentation spots yet. 
• Skin is hydrated (thanks to the hyaluronic acid), radiant, smooth to touch and very much plumped up after using this serum. My skintone is remarkably even around the eye (apart from the dread dark circles that I can’t get rid of) and fresh blemish marks fade within a week of use. I dare say my skin looks so radiant on it's own I've gone out bare-faced on weekends. 
• Wanting to make sure it was the product that was giving me the bright glowy skin, I decided to stop using the product for a few days. Sure enough, my complexion started to show signs of dullness and sallowness after 4 days. Needless to say, I starting piling on the product again after that to maintain the my healthy glow. 

I've been very impressed with Estee Lauder this year, their skincare products just seem to get better and this latest one is by far my favourite daily serum. It does everything it claims to and gives me positively radiant skin. I will definitely be refilling when I finish my precious bottle. 

Ingredients

Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyethylene, Propanediol, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Petrolatum, Butylene Glycol, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Hypnea Musciformis (Algae) Extract, Gellidiela Acerosa (Algae) Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Selaginella Tamariscina (Spike Moss) Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Fruit Juice, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Algae Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) Root Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile), Yeast Extract, Cholesterol, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Caffeine, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Sucrose, Squalene, Phytosterols, Lactoperoxidase, Polysorbate 40, Glucose Oxidase, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Jojoba Alcohol, Isopropyl Jojobate, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Jojoba Esters, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Trehalose, Glucose, Isohexadecane, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Polysilicone-11, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 80, Tromethamine, PEG-8, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocotrienols, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract, Phospholipids, Tocopherol, Pinanediol, Camphanediol, Potassium Sulfate, Laureth-12, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Triolein, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Cyclodextrin, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Silica, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carmine, Bismuth Oxychloride, Yellow 5

RRP A$105 30ml | A$150 50ml at Estee Lauder counters or online. 

 This product was provided for consideration.

Review: YSL Temps Majeur Concentre De Serum

Serums are a great way to boost the benefits of your skincare regime, whether they be rejuvenating, repairing, protecting properties and should be the best friend for anyone looking to get the most out of anti-aging benefits.

Serums are usually water based and should be the first product applied to allow first absorption and to prep skin. It also acts to draw other skincare products deeper into the skin's epidermis layer to boosters your other skincare products effects (rule of thum: apply the lightest most fluid product onto skin first before layering any other richer, heavy products on top or not all products will be absorbed into skin).

The lastest in the line up of serum is from luxury brand YSL, who in celebration of its 10 year anniversary, have come up with an advanced high-tech formula to complete its renowned anti-aging Temps Majeur collection.

YSL Temps Majeur Concentrate De Serum 

• Contains double the concentration of star ingredient Ganoderma Lucidum – the mushroom of eternal youth when compared to its predecessor serum. This magical mushroom is renowned in the Asian culture (where it's known in Chinese as ling-zhi or 靈芝) for the last two millennia is known as the elixir of life for its regenerative properties and therapeutic benefits. 
• A silky light fluid that is freshly fragranced, it is instantly absorbed into skin and leaves skin very hydrated without any stickiness. 
• Over times helps with cellular regeneration and rejuvenation to give radiant skin and for a glowing face. 
• Leaves skin baby soft and firmer to touch. 
• Suitable for all skin types, it helps to strengthen the skin barrier and smooth out skin – especially under the eye area where crepiness has reduced in appearance. 

This serum is the quintessence of luxury and anti-aging with a price tag to match. If money was no object and you need to test out a new fountain of youth, YSL Temps Majeur offers you this concentrated serum that will surely delight. I will enjoy every pump of my bottle and will be saddened the day it runs out.

Do you use serums as part of your skincare? What do you use?
RRP A$375/US$225 for 30ml at YSL counters now.
This product was provided for consideration.

Review: ASAP Super C Serum

One of the most powerful anti-aging ingredient in skincare products is vitamin C.  So when a Super C serum was released in the market with 20% vitamin C and even more impressive anti-oxidant Idebenone from one of my favourite Aussie skincare brand ASAP, I immediately want to know all about it.

ASAP Super C Serum 

• Trio star ingredients: 
• 20% Vitamin C - aka l'ascorbic acid, a skin brightener and anti-oxidant, at 20% concentration is one of the highest out there in the market. 
• 1% Idebenone – This is the star ingredients in Elizabeth Arden’s Prevage range and it is the most powerful anti-oxidant ever in the market. Corrects and repairs signs of aging whilst providing high level of protection from free radicals to prevent future damages. 
• 1% Pycnogenol – reduces the effects of UV exposure on skin and assists with collagen rebuilding to improve skin elasticity. 
• Slow release technology allows the ingredients to gradually diffuse into skin to continuously provide benefits over a long period of time. 
• Comes in an airless pump to maintain stability of the active ingredients. 
• Has a light citrusy scent which reminds me of vitamin C tablets from the health food stores. 
• Pale beige yellow in colour, it is non-greasy and absorbs very easily into skin. It feels slightly gritty (there appears to be micro solid particles suspended in the serum) when rubbed into skin but there is never any residue so this must dissolve with friction and could be due to the ingredient formulations. 

Results after 6 weeks use used as a day serum. 

• A healthier and clearer complexion – even my dermatologist commented on my improved skin clarity since my last visit late last year. 
• Skin do appear to be brighter and more radiant after a week’s use and maintains its level of radiance thereafter.
• Visible improvement in skin texture with smoother, refined skin that feels firmer to touch. 
• Vitamin C is often associated with brightening/fading skin pigmentation but I saw minimal change in my pigmentation spots around the eye area – perhaps longer term use would give better results? Dark marks from pimples and blemishes seem to fade considerably well with this serum though. 

Aside from the slight gritty texture, I can’t fault this serum for the results it gives in terms of firmer revitalised skin and improved skin clarity. I just need to find something that will work on those stubborn pigmentation and I’m all set!

RRP A$79 for 30ml at ASAP stocklists across Australia and New Zealand. It is also available online at the Facial Company.

This product was provided for consideration.