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Happy 2013 everybody! Hope you all had your share of fun during the holidays. While we were busy eating, drinking, parting and celebrating Christmas and New Years, fashion world was working extra hard designing new beauty looks for us to try. Here’s the preview of what awaits us in the upcoming glamorous spring season:
 Chloe Chloe updated the beloved cat-eye by extending its winged shape slightly past the outer corners of the eyes and covering the lid halfway up with an eye shadow. The combination of black eyeliner on the lash line and copper shimmery eye shadow elevates this look to new and modern.
 Fendi Fendi models were wearing glued pieces of colorful neoprene along their lash lines. Three different fabrics were used under their eyes in black, green, and orange. Translation to the real world: we may see 3-4 different colors integrated into one eyeliner at the same time.
 Gucci Gucci demonstrated how to do glamorous dark eyes with bold, strong lashes without wearing too much makeup. Dark brown liner was applied on both upper and lower lash lines first, then the same color shadow was blended on the lids. A few coats of black mascara finished the eye makeup. Shimmery highlighter was used all over the face for smoldering, pretty glow.
 Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton went for shiny wet effect with peach shadow on the eyes. A touch of thin black liner around lash lines and tons of mascara help eye shadow take center stage.
 Stella McCartney Bright metallic teal liner combined with barely there overall makeup is impossible not to notice. The focus is obviously on the eyes, but at the same time it’s hard to ignore model’s fresh, healthy looking skin achieved by adding a touch of light-reflecting powder and peachy pink blush on the cheeks.
 Valentino Pretty, glowy cheeks at Valentino were achieved by mixing 3 shades of pink blushes together: rosy pink, poppy pink, and baby pink. Foundation, concealer, powder and highlighter were applied afterward to accomplish an elegant lid-from-within effect. Beige eye shadow on the lids and a swipe of pink gloss added to the overall breeziness of the look.
One would think that we’ve seen it all by now, good or bad, crazy or sad (sorry, couldn’t resist). I’m talking runway makeup here. Creativity runs wild and free during fashion weeks, and most of the time there’s a lot for us to learn and follow. But there’s also an opposite side to runway makeup looks – the what-the-what? side, the one that gave us trends that should be gone forever with 2012.
 A. F. Vandevorst We all know that a little color on the cheeks works wonders for most complexions. But when you overdose on it, like this ‘blush gone wild’ look from A. F. Vandevorst, it may make you look sick, strange, or weird, or all of the above.
 Altuzarra Severe painted-on eyebrows from Altuzarra won’t be missed in 2013 simply because they don’t look good. That’s about it.
 DSquared It may also be a good idea for those disheveled smokey eyes and bleached brows combo from DSquared to be gone with 2012. It’s hard to call this makeup appealing when it makes a model look like a hot mess.
 Fendi When you see glued-on gold leaves around the eyes do you wonder if they flake into the eyes? Or how in the world are they going to take them off after the show? And more importantly, why didn’t they use golden eye shadow instead?
 Miguel Adrover There are sticks sticking out of this girl’s nose and chin and red polka dots all over her face. Poor thing looks both sick with chicken pox and in pain from being prickled with them skewers.
 Miu Miu Glowing neon eyes would probably be able to stop traffic at night and scare crowds away. Better be gone for good.
 Miu Miu Red eye shadow is hard to pull off for everybody. It doesn’t really flatter any eye color or skin tone. Surely won’t be missed.
Sephora Ultimate Dual Exfoliating Face Brush ($18)
Those of you who own a Clarisonic – you have a great brush, so feel free to ignore this post. Those who don’t – read up, ’cause I have a great product for you to check out for a fraction of the price.
Sephora Face Brush has 2 sides – one with long bristles for scrubbing and exfoliating, and the other one (pink) features soft silicone pad with tiny bristles for deep pore cleansing, massaging and invigorating the skin. Ladies, this brush is awesome! And no, I wasn’t paid to write this, I discovered it on my own while shopping at Sephora couple of weeks ago.
The brush has sturdy handle that’s never slippery when wet. It makes your skin clean and glowing. It works with any face cleanser. It’s affordable. The bristles are non-abrasive, gentle but also effective. I alternate sides every day and both of them work nicely for me. There’s no real science to it, it’s the way I decided to use the brush. So if you don’t feel like shelling your hard-earned moolah for Clarisonic, consider giving this one a chance. You may find yourselves addicted.
 SILK’N FACEFX Silk’n FaceFX Anti-Aging LED Handheld Facial Device ($299)
Silk’n FaceFX is an at-home anti-aging device that uses “a synergistic combination of fractional red light therapy and deep thermal heating to stimulate collagen production and achieve long-term radiant skin. Users can receive professional anti-aging results in the comfort of their own home. FaceFX emits a high power phototherapy red light through light emitting diodes (LED) to stimulate fibroblast production to reduce wrinkles and improve the skin’s appearance.” I simply call it youth device.
 SILK’N FACEFX Claimed benefits:
→ Uses LED-based Home Fractional (HF) Technology for diminishing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pores
→ Combines deep dermal heat and red light therapy to stimulate collagen production
→ Produces long-term, radiant skin results
→ Proven to diminish wrinkles, improve skin texture, brighten skin color and reduce pore size
 IN ACTION How to use: in circular motion on troubled areas of your face, 5 minutes per area, 20 minutes total session. For the first month it’s recommended to do 3 sessions per week, then 1 per week for maintenance. You are also advised to apply all your skincare treatments after each session.
 BEFORE  AFTER 1,5 MONTHS After testing FaceFX for 1,5 months I started noticing some changes. I didn’t have deep wrinkles on my face when I began the process, but I had a few little lines around my eyes that I was itching to smooth out. And although FaceFX didn’t completely erase them, they are much harder to notice now. I didn’t wear any concealer when taking photos for you to be able to see my lines better, so please disregard dark circles, I’m still working on those.
Now I’m in the maintenance phase of the treatment, meaning I only use FaceFX once a week. I was a bit skeptical about the device before going into testings, but my skepticism started to fade around week 4 when an eyesore of a wrinkle under my right eye diminished (see “before” photo). Now that felt better than Christmas morning.
Although I was lucky to try it for free, FaceFX is an investment. I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether it’s worth spending $299 on it or not. In my case it does seem to work by gradually making my skin tighter and brighter. I plan to keep using it once a week with hopes for better skin texture and less apparent lines in the near future. So far youth device has been good to me.
Dermalogica AGE Smart Overnight Skin Rescue Kit ($89.50)
Congratulations to Julie for winning, and thanks for your entries everybody.
Dermalogica is one of the brands that I tried a few times, loved the results, but never developed a consistent relationship with. So when online beauty retail market beautystoredepot.com offered to send me their products for review and giveaway, I got very excited and jumped into that opportunity on the spot.
Dermalogica AGE Smart Overnight Skin Rescue giveaway kit contains 3 products: AGE Smart Super Rich Repair face moisturizer, AGE Smart Age Reversal Eye Complex and AGE Smart Overnight Repair Serum. Used once a day before bed, this age-fighting complex works hard to restore skin’s elasticity, firmness and luminosity while eliminating dryness and softening lines at the same time.
In the kit, from left: Super Rich Repair face cream, Age Reversal Eye Complex, Overnight Repair Serum
Super Rich Repair Face Cream -super nourishing moisturizer combats extreme tightness and dryness.
Just a tiny bit is needed of Super Rich Repair Face Cream to moisturize and relieve dry skin on both face and neck. It has lightweight, lotion-like texture, but gives a lot more hydration than you’d expect without any greasiness. It makes skin soft and supple while stimulating collagen and Hyaluronic Acid production at the same time.
Age Reversal Eye Complex – Retinol eye treatment minimizes wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles and dehydration.
According to directions, Age Reversal eye cream is advised to be used every other night for the first 2 weeks, because it contains 1% Retinol that may irritate sensitive eye area. I didn’t have any irritation problems, so I was slathering it every day. It tightens and firms skin nicely, making you look rested in the morning even if you are not. It feels light, hydrating and comfortable when applied.
Overnight Repair Serum -supercharged peptide serum stimulates collagen production, firms and renews.
Repair serum looks and feels like face oil, but it doesn’t grease you up upon application. I was applying a few drops on my face, lightly massaging it into skin. It absorbs quickly, letting you use face cream couple of minutes later. It has distinct chemical smell, but I got used to it by now. It smooths out skin surface, helps with dryness and restores luminosity.
It’s too early to talk about any drastic changes in my skin texture, as I’ve only been using the kit for 2 weeks. But I do like the products and think that they are worth a try.
Beautystoredepot.com is promoting Dermalogica on their Facebook page right now, where they promise a huge grand price. You can try your luck with both contests (here and there) at the same time.
To enter giveaway: go to comments section below this post and tell me your main skin concern.
Giveaway will run for two weeks: December 4 – December 19.
U.S. residents only
Exuviance Targeted Filler T5 ($75)
What is it: An advanced face treatment for deep lines and wrinkles.
What it does: Exuviance Targeted Filler T5 utilizes a high-precision soft tip pen for concentrated application to problem areas. CitraFill enhances collagen production and restores elasticity. Matrixyl peptides help build skin’s own natural hydrating abilities. NeoGlucosamine works to rebuild skin’s natural volume over time, reducing the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles.
When I got the package with T5 for review I was very excited to try it – fighting lines and wrinkles never gets old. I love gigantic syringe that the product comes in, it’s convenient to use straight on the problem areas like crow’s feet and expression lines. When you press the plunger the syringe dispenses a small amount of product that you simply massage into fine lines twice a day, and then wait for it to smooth you out.
Targeted Filler works for all skin types. It has silky, light, transparent texture, similar to serum or primer. Being non-greasy, T5 mattifies skin, eliminating unwanted shine. It sinks into skin quickly, allowing you to follow with other face treatments right after. T5 feels hydrating and nourishing on skin, and works with different skincare lines – a huge plus, as you don’t have to change your beloved skincare routine.
Clinical studies show overall improvement in skin texture and noticeable smoothness of wrinkles and expression lines after 8 weeks of twice daily use. Even though everybody experiences results at different stages of using T5, consistency always pays off.
In my case – I liked using the Filler, it felt light and comfortable on skin, and worked great under makeup (concealer glides on top of it and blends nicely without the primer). I don’t have any deep lines and wrinkles yet, so I used it mainly for preventative purposes, going by the principle ‘get them before they get you’.
 BARBARA BUI Golden eye shadow may not fit in well into our everyday lives, but it seems like a great idea for winter holiday party season. Golden makeup flatters pretty much every skin tone, you just need to decide on the right intensity. Powder eye shadow applied with wet brush or creamy eye shadow will give you bolder, stronger color, which looks good on medium to dark complexions. A swipe of dry light-gold shadow over the lids works better for fair skin tones.
You can add a few coats of black mascara to finish the look or, if you feel adventurous, apply couple of coats of black and then add Lancome Hypnose 24-Karat Top Coat Mascara just to the tips of your lashes. Don’t use any other shimmery products on your face, the rest of the makeup should be subtle and matte. Another tip – make sure your earrings don’t outsparkle your golden eyes, too much shine can lead to overkill.
Ladies, the race to find the perfect gift for everybody in your life is on. It’s not easy to cater to other people’s tastes, so having some options that are most likely to flatter the majority of beauty junkies is always a relieve. I gathered a few ideas for your consideration of a nice quality products in a beautiful, irresistible packaging:
Clarins Odyssey Face Palette ($55)
Creatively designed Clarins Odyssey shimmering powder not only gives you a pretty glow, but also adapts to all skin tones. It comes in light peach color that can be used all over the face, neck and decollete, or as a blush. It’s not sparkly at all, that golden overspray wears off rather quickly, leaving you with silky, velvety, lightweight powder highlighter underneath. And the compact doesn’t look too shabby either.
Clinique Chubby Stick Set ($34.50)
I don’t know anybody who doesn’t like Chubby Sticks. And what’s not to like? They are super hydrating, soft, shiny, portable, and come in a great variety of colors. The gift set includes 5 shades: Richer Raisin, Curvy Candy, Chunky Cherry, Super Strawberry, Oversize Orange (0.04 oz. each). Love them all.
L’Occitane Hand Indulgences Set ($28)
L’Occitane Hand Indulgences set has 3 hand creams with shea butter to soften and nourish winter skin. They also smell divine, the creams come in Rose Petals, Mango Flower and Date Boquet.
Estee Lauder Art Of Nails Set ($27.50)
Rich and vibrant colors of Art of Nails Set will look equally pretty on both fingers and toes. The collection includes Purple Passion, Berry Hot, Porcelain and Pure Red shades, and a color-block pouch that can be reused for other purposes.
Kiel’s ‘Giftables’ Lip Balm Set ($30)
The beloved Kiel’s brand came up with the set of soothing, petrolatum lip protectors with SPF 4. In the box you’ll find Lip Balm #1, Lip Balm #1 Vanilla, Lip Balm #1 Coconut and Lip Balm #1 Mango, 0.5 oz. each.
Lancome Lip Essential Collection ($39.50)
Lancome Lip Essential Collection comes in two varieties – ‘Tres Chic in Nude’ (shown) and ‘Glamorous in Red’ for everybody’s pleasure. The black cosmetics bag includes creamy Color Design Sensation Effects Lipstick, La Laque Fever shiny gloss and Le Lipstique lip liner.
Happy shopping!
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