Beauty411

AMOREPACIFIC Contour Lift Extreme Eye Cream

AMOREPACIFIC introduces Contour Lift Extreme Eye Cream, an addition to the Contour Lift Extreme Collection.  I'm a big fan of eye creams that do it all--improve crepiness, dark circles and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.  It's a pretty tall order, but the new AMOREPACIFIC Contour Lift Extreme Eye Cream succeeds. 

I have chronic dark circles under my eyes, under-eye puffiness and it's always a challenge to find a good eye cream.  In fact, eye creams are the one cosmetic product where I shop without looking at the price, because it's worth it to me to find one that works. 

I've been using AMOREPACIFIC Contour Lift Extreme Eye Cream for the past six weeks. With regular am & pm use, I can't even tell you the last time I've reached for concealer. I've also seen improvements in under-eye puffiness and improvement in crow's feet.  The overall improved appearance of my eye area is noticeable. 

AMOREPACIFIC Contour Lift Extreme Eye Cream uses a combination of botanicals like Iris Root Extract, caffeine and Derma-Refilling Complex to boost the skin's elasticity, firm skin and improve dark circles.  The texture of the cream is light, almost gel-like, which makes it perfect for summer.  It absorbs into skin and is lightly fragranced.

AMOREPACIFIC Contour Lift Extreme Eye Cream retails at $150 and is available at Neiman Marcus stores, Bergdorf Goodman New York, as well as online at neimanmarcus.com. 

Best Winter Hand Creams - Nine Moisturizers You'll Love!

Although this has been a rough winter, it's perfect for testing hand creams!  My hands have been dry and reddened from exposure to the wind, along with cracked skin.  Not a pretty sight.  I've been trying to fight back and find that perfect moisturizer to restore my hands. 

To be an effective hand cream, the formula should contain a combination of ingredients --humectants to help prevent dehydration, emollients to soften skin and occlusives, like petroleum, to protect skin.  While not scientific, the things I look for, in addition to ingredients, are how it feels on the skin, how long the effects last and consistency of the product. 

These are what I consider the best winter hand creams, in all price ranges:

Sally Hansen has a wonderful assortment of hand creams out now and they're really terrific. My favorite is the Sally Hansen 18 Hour Protective Hand Cream.  Made with shea butter, vitamins a,c and e this hand cream softens, smooths and protects your skin.  Absorbs easily and helps fight age spots. Approximately $ 6.49.

Bath & Body Works Shea Cashmere Hand Cream is made with luxe African Shea Butter and silky Mongolian Cashmere Extract to deeply hydrate and nourish skin for a smooth, creamy finish.  Smells heavenly!  $ 14.50.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Hand Cream:  This non-greasy hand cream does it all: targets skin crepiness, sun damage, redness, discoloration, weakened nails and dryness.  Treats hands and nails. I love how it feels--so conditioning.  It's perfect for a nighttime treatment. $ 60.

LaMer The Hand Treatment:  LaMer's marine proteins, botanicals and antioxidants help to resurface, protect and heal your hands by creating a protective, emollient barrier to prevent dehydration and soothe the skin.  The Hand Treatment does more than just moisturize; it helps improve age spots and the appearance of your hands. If you like to pamper yourself, the LaMer The Hand Treatment is for you. $70. 

Best Winter Lip Treatments

In order to be named a "best winter lip treatment", a lip balm has to be conditioning, last overnight, be soothing and nourishing.  The skin on your lips doesn't have oil glands, so moisturization must be applied.  Dry winter air (whether from the inside or outside), blowing wind and cold temperatures are hard enough on your skin, let alone your lips. 

Here are some of the best winter lip treatments I've found and highly recommend:

MISSION Product Lip Protector SPF 20:  The MISSION line was developed by athletes for their own use and now for the rest of us.  MISSION Product Lip Protector SPF 20 lip balm contains anti-oxidants and is preservative and paraben-free.  I love that it is long-lasting, has sunscreen in it to protect and soothes without being greasy. The Gretchen Bleiler Lip Balmer SPF 15 is great, too! 

the lip scrub and the lip slip by sara happ:  Everyone knows that the secret to smooth skin is exfoliation and your lips are no different.  But who wants to use a toothbrush or washcloth on your lips?  Sara Happ didn't and neither do I.  She formulated one of the best lip scrubs ever...and followed it up with the lip slip.  At night, I apply a little of the brown sugar lip scrub (which tastes amazing, by the way) and then apply the lip slip.  Infused with Sweet Almond, Jojoba and Macadamia Nut oils, the lip slip locks in moisture.  Get them both--you won't be disappointed.

LABBRI Lip Treatment:  Formulated with only 4 ingredients, including medical grade lanolin, the composition of LABBRI Lip Treatment is nearly identical to the skin's natural oils. That allows the treatment to penetrate deeply and hydrate from within.  LABBRI Lip Treatment is 100% natural, with no colorants, fragrance or preservatives.  A very elegant lip treatment product.

Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment:  I love the Amore Pacific skin care line and when I heard they had a new lip treatment out I had to try it.  Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment combines anti-oxidants like Green Tea Seed Oil Extract, minerals and amino acids to reinforce the lips natural moisture barrier.  It hydrates lips for up to 8 hours--your lips are left feeling silky soft and comfortable.  Love this one!

Darphin Age Defying Lip Balm:  Darphin, the luxury French skincare line, has a winner with the new Age Defying Lip Balm.  A  natural antioxidant complex formed from the combination of Organic Argan Oil & Rosemary Oil neutralizes free radicals and helps protect the lips from aging.  Age Defying Lip Balm has the most incredible, delicate fragrance--a blend of vanilla and essential oils including sweet almond, plum orange and rosewood.  A new favorite.


LaMer The Lip Balm:  If anyone knows moisturizer, it's Creme de La Mer.  The Lip Balm doesn't disappoint.  The Lip Balm is infused with a potent concentration of the original Miracle Broth with marine extracts, botanicals and vitamins.  The Lip Balm also contains an essential protein found in arctic marine life that helps keep them from freezing.  It has a slightly minty taste and soothes and comforts on contact.  I know I can trust LaMer for great products and The Lip Balm is no exception.

Do you have a favorite lip treatment?  Let me know in the comments!

You may also be interested in:

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

Top 5 Winter Skin Care Tips from Renee Rouleau

Holiday Gift Guide: Luxe Edition

Talk of the economy, the cutbacks in retail spending and frugality is so depressing that I decided to compile a money-is-no-object gift list.  I used to get the lecture all that time that money doesn't grow on trees.  Well, if it did, these would be the presents I would be picking:

Crème de la Mer The Luxury Essentials: Includes Crème de la Mer (2 oz.), The Lifting Face Serum and The Eye Concentrate in a limited edition mother of pearl round box.  The Luxury Essentials brings together three La Mer signatures - Crème de la Mer, The Lifting Face Serum and The Eye Concentrate.  Presented in a sumptuous pearlized leather box, this miraculous set boasts extraordinary results.  Available exclusively at Bergdorf Goddman and Neiman Marcus.  Suggested Retail Price $630

The Bobbi Brown Exclusive Makeup Trunk contains just about every Bobbi Brown product in the line, including brushes.  The case is hand-crafted in platinum leather.  Of course, for $ 2000, it would be nice if Bobbi were to come to your house and deliver it, but still....quite fab nonetheless.  Santa, you must have "forgotten" this last year.  So I'm adding it to my list.  Again.  Available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

Amore Pacific Time Response Gift Set:  Amore Pacific uses every vital part of the green tea plant in its' Time Response treatments, merging beauty and health in this anti-aging, high performance skincare line designed to restore skin to its optimum, youthful state.  Using Time Response on your skin each day equals the antioxidant value of drinking 15 cups of green tea.  At Neiman Marus.

Estee Lauder Cathedral Square Solid Perfume Compact.  I'm fascinated by Russian architecture and when I saw this Sensuous solid perfume compact, I fell in love with it.  Estee Lauder solid perfume compacts are highly detailed and collectible miniature works of art.  One of the highlights of my life was seeing a collection of the solid perfume compacts in Mrs. Estee Lauders private office in New York in September.  The Cathedral Square Solid Perfume Compact retails at $300 and is available exclusively at Neiman Marcus.

Space NK has put it's signature fragrance into a Deluxe Gift Set, with everything you need for incorporating more Laughter into your world.  I adore the Laughter fragrance, with it's citrus top notes of bergamot, grapefruit and lime.  This Deluxe set includes the Eau de Toilette, Bath Oil, Shower Gel, Body Lotion and a Candle.  Start with the shower gel, layer the body lotion and then spritz the Laughter EDT for a complete fragrance experience.  Or, light the candle, fill the bathrub, then layer the body lotion.  Total indulgence. $225.

If money were no object, what beauty or fragrance items would you put on your list for Santa?  Leave a comment and let me know!

AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Skin Renewal Foundation SPF 18

If you're looking for a foundation that makes your skin look as if it's glowing, supple and radiant, AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Skin Renewal Foundation SPF 18 is a product you'll want to try out.  I've never been one to like a heavy foundation.  I much prefer a natural coverage that lets my skin shine through.  This is a natural finish foundation that feels weightless and silky on the skin, with light-reflecting properties to minimize shadows and restore a healthy glow. 

Skin Renewal Foundation contains the same Time Response Complex found in other AMOREPACIFIC products. The powerful combination of Red Ginseng and EGCG stimulates the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, thus improving volume, hydration, texture, firmness and elasticity.  Add to that the SPF 18 and you have a treatment foundation, that over time, helps recover the radiance of healthy looking skin. The coverage is light-to-medium; just enough to hide imperfections. I found the # 200 shade to be the color that matched up best with my skin. And one formula works for all skin types.  Overall, I found this to be an excellent foundation, providing beautiful, flawless coverage.

AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Skin Renewal Foundation SPF 18 is available in 8 shades.  You can find Skin Renewal Foundation at select Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman stores, online at www.neimanmarcus.com and www.bergdorfgoodman.com and at the AMOREPACIFIC Beauty Gallery and Spa in New York City.

Neiman Marcus Fall Fashion & Beauty Book

The Neiman Marcus Fall Book arrived today; inside the almost 300 pages of fabulous fall fashion is my goldmine: The Beauty Book.  I generally take The Book and find a quiet corner, where I can thoughtfully contemplate (and drool over) the offerings. 

The Book lists Fall's Magnificent Seven Fashion Trends; I've decided to add my own spin on that and give you my Magnificent Seven Beauty Offerings: 

• The newest organic scent from L'Artisan Parfumeur, L'Eau de Jatamansi, is a blend of grapefuit, cardamom, clary sage, rose, incense and the restorative properties of the namesake Himalayan plant.  I'm dying to try this one.
• AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Skin Renewal Foundation.  I love the Time Response line; this rejuvenating treatment foundation with antioxidants and SPF 18 sounds lovely.
• Clinique R+ De-Aging Cream, a new moisturizer containing retinol and Clinique CX Antioxidant Rescue Serum.  Serious skin care; just what you'd expect from Clinique.
• Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Creme and Eye Creme.  Packed with ingredients like red and brown algae, South Sea Pearls and an ingredient called "The Youth Molecule".  Yes, please.
• Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Smoky Eye.  Shades of grey, silver, charcoal and white.  Must. Have.
• Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking makeup collection (pictured).  The bold lip: Rouge Pur Shine in Tuxedo Pink; Tuxedo Gray La Laque Nail Polish.  The palettes, Black Tuxedo for eyes and Silky Nude for face are stunning.
• David Yurman Eau de Parfum; so far there hasn't been anything of David Yurman's jewelry collections that I haven't loved (much to my husband's dismay); why should his fragrance be any different?

The dates for the much-anticipated Neiman Marcus Beauty Event are September 5-14.  When you purchase $100 or more in cosmetics or fragrance, receive a stylish tote containing eight beauty treats.  Mark your calendar--this is a can't miss!  Do you love fall makeup as much as I do?  What are your must-haves?

AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Skin Renewal Gel Creme

AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Skin Renewal Gel Creme is a luxurious anti-aging skin treatment that, when used twice a day, provides the equivalent anti-oxidant power of drinking 15 cups of green tea.  The anti-aging benefits of antioxidants, and in particular, green tea, are well known.  The Time Response Skin Renewal Gel Creme contains EGCG, the most pure and rare form of green tea, 6 year-old Korean Red Ginseng and a host of other anti-aging ingredients. 

So what does this antioxidant cocktail do for you?  In addition to firming, restoring radiance and repairing environmental damage, I have to tell you, I love the light texture and feel of this creme on my combination skin.  It's formulated to be a 24-hour time released treatment and, when used daily, your skin does look and feel hydrated. You can't ignore the Asian aesthetic in the simple and beautiful packaging. 

AMOREPACIFIC, which means "beauty emanates from within" is available at select Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores.  For the most complete details on where to find AMOREPACIFIC product line, check the website.