Sunday Splurge: SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF Gel

Okay, I know preventative serums aren’t the sexiest of Sunday Splurges, but even I need to be practical sometimes.  I found out about Skinceuticals in my early 20s when I was a PR peon at a boutique firm who represented  the brand.  Through my work I was able to learn a lot about the science behind the products and its founding scientist Dr. Sheldon Pinnell.  At the time, Skinceuticals was just starting out and they only had 3 or 4 products in the line, but it didn’t matter. All anyone wanted to talk about was their topical vitamin C serum. We didn’t have to pitch the beauty editors to try the serum, their assistants were calling us for refills.  Several studies showed that topical vitamin C can prevent photo-aging and help correct inflamed skin, and guess what, Dr. Pinnell is the guy who discovered it.

In the years since the golden days of my early twenties,  Dr. Pinnell and team discovered a way to combine vitamin C with ferulic acid and phloretin to create a powerhouse of protectors warding off the vicious agers of mass destruction. Full disclosure, my skin never got along with Skinceuticals serums until they came out with the Phloretin CF Gel.   Back in my peon days of organizing the beauty closet I tried Skinceuticals Serum 15, which at the time was 15% L-ascorbic acid serum and a little too much firepower for my wussy ass sensitive skin.  Then a few years ago I tried C E Ferulic, thinking that since they added vitamin E it would obviously work on my skin now (E is supposed to be healing, right?).  Big mistake. The E makes the C super-potent.  My skin didn’t speak to me for weeks.

You can imagine I was overjoyed last year when Skinceuticals came out with their Phloretin CF Gel, a ”serum-in-a-gel” that has a a clear, non-sticky consistency that dries to a satin finish, and most importantly, does not irritate my skin in the least (in fact it has almost a cooling effect).

You’re probably thinking, “If I’m going to spend $152 on an anti-ager I want to see some results!” I know it’s tough to make an investment in preventative skincare because you don’t get any of the satisfaction of looking in the mirror and seeing an immediate difference. But you have to trust me. And if you don’t trust me, trust science (via Skinceuticals):

Phloretin CF® Gel defies the boundaries of gel formulations using a state-of-the-art gelifier that meets the strict vitamin C parameters established by Duke University research. 

Formulated with an optimized acid combination of 2% phloretin, 10% vitamin C, and 0.5% ferulic acid, this serum-in-a-gel protects skin from the range of reactive molecules known to cause DNA mutations and damage among the integral cell types. This trusted antioxidant trio also accelerates cell turnover and stimulates collagen synthesis to boost skin’s structure for a firmer, brighter complexion. 

Used daily, this preventive and corrective treatment provides broad-range photoprotection and conquers damage at every level of skin. Controlled penetration and a soft, comforting finish makes Phloretin CF® Gel ideal for sensitive skin, ethnic skin types, men, and those who do not like to layer products.

Suitable for problematic, normal, combination, oily, or sensitive skin types.

Trust the science, invest in the magic gel, and be patient.  After my first month of using the Phloretin CF Gel I definitely saw less overall redness in my skin, and I’ve gotta say something makes me feel better about enjoying the great outdoors knowing that an arsenal of antioxidants are protecting my face.

A Brush with Disaster…

I’m embarrassed to even type these words, but… I lost my makeup brush roll. How does such a thing happen?  It’s my own fault for separating my brushes from my makeup case when I foolishly decided my finely curated brush collection had outgrown the confines of the makeup case pocket.  I’m pretty sure I left the brush roll in wine country, but no one has found them.   Now I’m left hopeless — applying velvety shadows with fingertips, attempting to bronze with a sponge (hello drag queen cheeks), and blending with tissues (lots and lots of blending).

It’s tough for me to take the first step and begin replacing my coveted brush collection, even if my new method of makeup application leaves me looking like “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?”  I’ll tell you my problem right now… I loved my brushes for the obvious reasons — quality, longevity, feel, etc.  But it also took me years of buying tons of expensive brushes I never ended up using to whittle down to my dream team.  Those poor brushes are probably crying in a trashcan somewhere in Napa, drunk off the drops of the near-empty wine bottles, wondering where their Mommy is… Okay maybe I’m being creepy, but they are my babies.

I had a lot of memories with those brushes:

- Laura Mercier Eye Crease Brush, I bought you after my first Cle de Peau makeover (read: beauty binge), when Nina urged me out of my safety zone of bronzes and browns and used you to delicately swipe Satin Eye Color 108, a rich purple, into my crease.

-  Make Up For Ever Makeup Brush in #17S: You were the perfect blending brush.  Your loose, domed tip lightly swirled the lines of my shadows into diffused dimensions.  Remember that time in Vegas when you were called in to fix my self-inflicted, overly-aggressive smoked eye before my bachelorette party?  Good times.

- Trish McEvoy Brush #37 Bronzing Brush:  I can’t believe it’s been five years since  I fell in love with you at the Neiman’s counter in San Francisco.  As soon as I felt the  super soft bristles on my cheekbones and saw the understated bronze of the finished look, I knew that my incumbent bronzing brush would be transferred to the dreaded top drawer (where makeup brushes go to die in the Beauty Binge house).

So getting back to my problem (like it’s not obvious)… Now that I’ve started researching possible brush replacements I find myself “needing” almost every brush I see!  Sure, I know how to give myself a smoky eye without using a brush made specifically for smoky eyes, but why do I have to?  I mean, have you seen the Laura Mercier Smoky Eye Liner Brush? It looks so soft and fun to use.  And what about the M.A.C #168 Large Angled Contour Brush?  Yes, of course I can use my bronzing brush to contour, but again, why should I have to?

I’m starting to sound like Veruca Salt again.  Okay, I’m going to be practical and start with the essentials listed above and also throw in a M.A.C Brushes #266 Small Angle Brush so I have an eyeliner brush to use with both wet and dry makeup.  So yes, I’ll always hold onto the hope that my brushes will be found, but in the meantime I look forward to my new babies to arrive! (Creepy?)

Red Carpet Beauty Report: Movie Premiere Mayhem!

I was shocked and awed  at the images from the red carpets at the London Snow White and the Huntsman and Los Angeles What to Expect When You’re Expecting premieres.  Shock came from the horror show of Jennifer Lopez’s homely hair and eye-closing makeup, and awe hit when I saw the perfection of Kristen Stewart’s metallic smoked eye and the gold chains that were intertwined into her updo.

Let’s start with Snow White and the Huntsman:

First of all, I LOVE that her stylist was probably like, “Let’s just F the matchy matchy rule of metallics and give you a silver smokey eye and a gold-chained updo.”  That’s the kind of beauty brilliance that goes down in the history books.  By adding the gold chain the stylist made a usually classic updo into an edgy, textured artistic creation.  Now take a closer look at those gorgeous metallic eye:

The cool silver of the eye shadow make her green eyes look almost steely blue and her natural yet groomed eyebrows and light mauve lipstick subtly complement the bold eye.   By the way I love how naked  her skin looks. If I had to guess I would say she’s just wearing a tinted moisturizer and some primer.

Charlize Theron also personified perfection at this premiere with her sculpted flip updo and structured smokey eye.   The simplicity of the hair  complements the drama of the eye makeup and bright emerald earrings.  While Kristen’s smokey eye was diffused, Charlize’s smokey eyes were defined (hence “structured”) into an opaque shape using black and grey shadows and a touch of metallic to make her eyes look like they are sparkling.  I obviously love the dusty rose lipstick and cheeks.  The one thing I’m iffy on with this look is her roots. I’m assuming they are meant to be darker (if not someone in her entourage needs to be fired), and I think it just looks like a forgotten detail and takes away from the sophistication of the look.

Onto the red carpet road kill at the What to Expect When You’re Expecting LA premiere:

Really, JLo?? Serious or kidding?  You know better than to let your makeup artist line both your waterlines with dark pencil. You looked like you were squinting in every photo.  I would love to wax poetic about the gorgeous dark wine lipstick (one of the biggest trend on the carpets right now) because it looks fantastic with her skin tone and hair color, but I’m so distracted by the terrible eye makeup and grandma ponytail I simply can’t give JLo’s beauty team any gold stars on this one.

 Are you kidding me with this ponytail? What happened here?  Is that really just an Ouchless ponytail holder?  It seems like maybe her hair was annoying her (perhaps it was that unbecoming zip-zip middle part) and she just got frustrated and pulled it back.  But even then, wrap some hair around the ponytail holder or something. My God, she’s getting dangerously close to scrunchy territory and I don’t like it.

Oh, hello Anna Kendrick.  Don’t you look stunning. Maybe next time you can lend JLo your beauty team?  Because Anna darling, you looked amazing from every angle with your timeless, sophisticated makeup and romantic tumbling curls (and notice Anna has a middle part but her’s seems soft and natural).

GET ANNA’S  MAKEUP LOOK:

Face: After priming, blend a creamy liquid foundation like Amore Pacific Time Response Foundation into your skin. Then apply a pinky blush like the legendary NARS Orgasm from the apple of your cheeks to your temples.

Eyes: Cover the entire lip with a neutral shadow. Then, blend a light to medium brown shadow into your crease.  Next use a waterproof black eyeliner pencil like Sephora Kohl Waterproof Eyeliner to create a thick black line along the upper lash line, and complete the look with multiple coats of mascara.

Eyebrows: Use either an eyebrow pencil or eyeliner pencil (works just as well) in a color that is a shade lighter than your natural hair and make small lines (resembling eyebrow hair) throughout your eyebrows. Then set with a colorless eyebrow gel like Anastasia Brow Gel or spray hairspray on an eyebrow brush.

Lips: Use a lip brush to apply a creamy mauve lipstick like Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Sugar Plum that will drop a lot of pigment without looking dramatic.

Voila! Your gorg!

Chic flick vs. chic flick,  I’ll take Snow White and the Huntsman any day of the week, not only because the leading ladies smoldered on the red carpet but let’s face it  What to Expect What You’re Expecting is the kind of movie I wouldn’t even watch on a plane.

Allure Competition Challenge #4: Favorite Trends!

Hugs and kisses to all for voting for me last week in the Allure Beauty Bloggers Competition!  Thanks to you and your votes, I survived another round of eliminations!  For this week’s challenge we got to choose our favorite trend, and for me writing about the sexy cat eye was a no brainer.  I had so much fun writing this challenge and shooting my gorgeous friends (see below) rocking the different cat eye looks!  I love the 3 photos shown on Allure for this challenge, but it’s tough to see the eye makeup so I thought I would post a few shots from the cutting room floor:

Learn how to gets Susan’s bad-ass look by clicking here!

Punch up this look by using a gel eyeliner instead of pencil to fill in the lines.

There is something so fun about a double-winged eye. Learn how to get Michelle’s look by clicking here!

You can see from this angle that the top wing is much thicker and more pronounced than the bottom wing.

I wanted to show you a close-up of the kitten since getting the shape down is paramount. Read how to get Susan’s kitten eye here!

Enjoy this week’s challenge and PLEASE VOTE for me so I can continue on to the final round!  I love you all and thank you again for all your support! Binge on!

My New Obsession: Revitalash Spotlight Highlighting Pencil

Don’t be fooled by the brand name (I was before I tried the product)… A) because this product has nothing to do with lashes B) just because the brand started out as a lash enhancer doesn’t mean they don’t know how to create beautiful makeup.   Full disclosure: the Revitalash Spotlight Highlighting Pencil ($22) was sent to me by a publicist.  It’s a good thing since I probably never would have bought it on my own.  There are just so many makeup brands out there, and so many highlighters for that matter, that I can’t imagine myself browsing through Sephora and reaching for a makeup pencil created by a lash conditioning brand.  Shame on me for being so narrow minded!

The Revitalash Spotlight Highlighting Pencil is by far the best highlighting product I’ve come across (Bold statement, I know.  But I stand by my words).  This  gel-based pencil (even though it’s called a pencil, it’s more of a shadow stick with a creamy consistency) glides on smooth and plays nice with all my other makeup.   I feel like every highlighter I’ve used in the past for my brow bone and cheeks are either too liquidy (pens like Cle de Peau Beaute Brilliant Enhancer, YSL Touche Eclat) or don’t blend well with my powder shadows and bronzer (cream highlighters that seem to make a stripe of sparkle rather than a diffused, blended illumination).  I’ve been forced to use shimmery eye shadow to highlight which tends to cause a sparkle meltdown when it falls all over my face (I’m way too old to wear glitter).

Luckily I can stop worrying about looking like an over-age club kid now that I have Revitalash Spotlight Highlighting Pencil in my arsenal.  It blends beautifully and has a pinkish shimmery sheen.   I swipe that creamy bad boy on my brow bone and from my cheekbones to my temples.  I blend lightly with my finger and then apply the tip of the pencil directly to the inner corner of my eyes to give me a more brightened, awake eye.  Voila! A gorgeous, blended highlighter that lasts all day.

InStyle’s “Best Beauty Buys” List: Get Out Your Credit Cards, Ladies!

When InStyle comes out with their “Best Beauty Buys” list I get that energy running through my veins, fingers twitching, looking around the room for the location of my wallet so I can covertly grab it without my husband taking notice.  Lucky for our credit card bills I’ve already tried many of the 150 items that made the list.  The majority of the products are incumbents, having won in their categories several years in a row.   This doesn’t mean the editorial staff got lazy and just decided to recycle previous years’ lists.  Like most beauty addicts, the editors probably have their favorite products and are sticking to what they love.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all old news — there are some choice newcomers and surprises like the Bliss Pore-Fector Gadget and the Ibiza Boar Bristle Brush (both of which I intend to buy).

I obviously can’t go through 150 products, but here are the highlights:

• Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (Best Shade for Dark Skin; Winner ‘10, ‘09): This lipstick may have won for dark skin but this flattering color looks great on the full spectrum of skin shades.  I’ve seen it compliment fair skin blonds and light skinned brunettes like me.
• Ibiza Boar Bristle (Best Round Brush): I’ve had plenty of talented stylists use this brush on me. The boar bristles bring the shine and it’s easy for the bristles to “grab” the hair to create volume at the crown. I’m definitely buying this!
• Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (Best Primer Winner; ‘11, ‘10, ‘09, ‘08): Really? Again? I guess I’m the cheese standing alone on not loving this primer.   Every time I tried this primer it balled up on me. Maybe it has something to do with the molotov cocktail of my morning skincare regimen that interfered with its silicone-heavy consistency. All I know is it never sat well on my skin.  But obviously just because it didn’t work with my skin, it apparently wonders for millions of other faces.  It has a stronghold on everyone’s “Best Of” lists.
• Elta MD Skincare UV Daily SPF 40 (Best Facial Sunscreen):  Now that I’m living in Cali, I’m going through a tremendous amount of SPF.  I’m always looking for lightweight multi-taskers like this one (has hyaluronic acid to retain moisture), especially when they are advertised as compatible for sensitive skin.  (By the way, the editors must have fallen in love with this entire line or the CEO is married to the beauty editor because this brand won in almost every SPF category)
• Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer (Best Overall Concealer; Winner ‘11, ‘10, ‘09, ‘08, ‘06, ‘05): Obviously I’m a buyer.  This is a miracle concealer for everything from puffy dark eyes to pimples.  See my Sunday Splurge for more detail.
• Bliss Pore-Fector Gadget  (Editor’s Pick):  I’ve been eyeing this tool for a while, but for $185 this thing better suck up a hell of a lot of oil.  The gadget uses sonic waves loosen dirt and oil (I love science) which supposedly leave your pores clean and clear.  All I need was the InStyle thumbs up to add this bad boy to my shopping cart.

Farewell to an Icon: Vidal Sassoon Dies at 84

Vidal Sassoon, the original celebrity hairstylist, died today in Los Angeles at 84.  Sassoon revolutionized women’s hair in the 1960s when “hair styling” usually meant hours of hot rollers, teasing, tons of hairspray, and sitting under a dryer.  ”My idea was to cut shape into the hair, to use it like fabric and take away everything that was superfluous,” Sassoon said in 1993 in the Los Angeles Times. “Women were going back to work, they were assuming their own power. They didn’t have time to sit under the dryer anymore.”

Every bobbed hair look you see on celebs like Jennifer Aniston and Victoria Beckham stems from Sassoon’s original work and vision.

Some of Sassoon’s most famous creations:

 Sassoon sculpting sixties icon Mary Quant’s hair

Sassoon chopping off Twiggy’s locks was the best thing that ever happened to her career. It took her from model to icon.

Even though Sassoon was famous for getting haircuts right, he admitted in a 2011 interview with the New York Times that sometimes his experiments would go terrible wrong and he would assuage his clients with a catch phrase: “It’ll grow, darling. Come back and be my guest.”

All the Beauty You Can Handle from the Met Gala Last Night

Sorry for the delay in getting this out, but I got a bit carried away going through all the images of the beauties at the Costume Institute Gala at the Met last night.   This year’s Gala highlighted the works of Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli, and many of the guests paid homage to these two visionaries in their looks. From over-the-top high drama hair  like Rihanna and Cameron Diaz to au natural “I’m so gorgeous I barely even need make up” faces like Gisele and Kate Bosworth, I ended up hitting ‘save’ for almost every image I saw.

Some of the trends:

-  Loving the return of the vampy lip!  Everyone from Camille Belle to Kate Bosworth rocked a dark wine-hued lip

-  This red carpet was all about letting stunning skin and lips be the stars. Some celebs went with almost zero eye makeup except for lashes.

- What is up with the return of the Quiff (a Quiff is like a rockabilly pompadour)? Yeah, Tom Brady, I’m talking to you…

Here are a few of my favorite looks, and perhaps a couple I just want to complain about:

Oh, hello perfection. Beyonce kept things simple with a black kitten eye and a creamy orange (this season’s hottest color) on her lips.  Her eyebrows were bold yet natural (I can’t resist a bold brow), and her cheeks were warmed with just a hint of coral.

I can’t look at this photo of Camilla Belle without focusing on those dark crimson lips (GET THOSE LIPS: Line your lips with a natural pencil to avoid bleeding and with a lip brush paint a rich, pigmented yet hydrating lipstick like Lipstick Queen in Sinner).  GORG! Soooo flattering for a brunette with her coloring. She definitely gets my “BEST MAKEUP” award for the night.  It looks like her makeup artist blended a matching reddish hue in the crease to bring out the hazel of her eyes, penciled in those naturally bold brows, and used the right amount of highlighter in just the right places to ensure Camilla was picture perfect from every angle.

Sooo…. what can I say here?  I love that Cameron Diaz is going natural with the makeup BUT she has thin lips so she should have gone for a little more color to punch up the look. I assume her makeup artist decided to go minimal to better draw attention to the silly Quiffed hair?  Yeah, I said silly.  Is it just me, or does her hair look very similar to the look she became famous for in There’s Something About Mary?

Jessica Alba is always gorgeous, but last night she was all out glamour  – her makeup artist gave her a modern bold bushy brow, highlighted cheeks,  and a cabernet-colored lip .  I LOVED her Veronica Lake hair, crafted by Renato Campora for Frederic Fekkai, who shared that he was going for “well designed, structured and elegant.” (HOW TO GET THE LOOK: On wet hair, Renato applied Fekkai Coiff Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel throughout and then formed a strong side part. He dried the hair with a round brush to create volume and shine. Next, he used a one inch curling iron to create the body and shape of the look. Renato then brushed through the curls, to build waves starting from the side-part. After, he applied a small amount of Fekkai Advanced Brilliant Glossing Cream to define the waves of the hair and add a lasting shine. To finish the look, Renato sprayed Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray.)

Yes, we know Tom Brady and Gisele are a stunning couple, but what happened with Tom’s hair?  Did Cameron Diaz’s stylist have too much gel left over so he/she walked over to Tom and gave him a Quiff too?  Gisele of course has the “F You I’m Beautiful” makeup look —  meaning she’s barely wearing anything.  For her hair she used some of Tom’s left over gel and swept her hair back into a simply sleek bun.

I have a love/hate thing going on with Rihanna’s look.  Her hair is just ridiculous.  It’s a Quiff with an identity crisis and I personally think it takes away from her flawless makeup.   I love the warm shadows on her eyes, groomed eyebrows, the perfectly-blended contoured cheeks and the creamy mauve on her lips.

Kate Bosworth proves you don’t have to be a brunette to pull off a dark berry lip. I love the understated eye makeup and carefully contoured cheeks, all bringing attention back to that sexy lip.  The braided bun is adorbs and with a face like that, she can carry it.  (Photo via Just Jared)

When I first saw this photo of Marion Cotillard, I wasn’t sure I liked it.  I think it was the severity of the bangs that threw me off, but then when I looked at it again the first thing that popped into my head was Audrey Hepburn when she won the Oscar for Roman Holiday.   I’m usually not a huge lover of the blunt bang, but it worked for her with her delicate features.  I loved the simplicity of her makeup too — the soft natural lip and delicately smoked eyes. (Photo via Just Jared)

All in all, the stars far from disappointed last night by bringing all the glam and drama that is fitting for the Met Gala.  I wish I could post more looks, but this Binger has to go try a new skincare line for redness I received yesterday.  So excited!  Yes, my life is tough and I’m constantly making sacrifices for you.