Lancôme | Or Vendôme, Parisian Lights Collection 2014

Inspired by the chill Wintry beauty of Parisian nights & lights at the end of the year, the Lancôme Parisian Lights Collection for Holiday 2014, includes this truly fabulous Or Vendôme (DR09) palette that holds five eminently wearable shades that can be combined to create enough looks to tide you well past the party circuit.

Nude colours are still holding court with beauty lovers the world over, and this Or Vendôme palette is one that has been flying under most people’s radar, being overshadowed by so many other brands. But don’t let the fact that it’s part of a ‘gold collection’ fool you; this is a palette that will transcend the seasons and quickly become a makeup wardrobe staple. I mean, just look at it.

Or Vendôme, Limited Edition (CAN $55.00) | Housed in a sleek rectangular compact, this limited edition version comes with a textured gold cover that gives this palette a vintage-y & somewhat glamorous vibe. The inner mirror displays an eyeshadow placement chart (useful only if you’re not sure where to layer the shades; otherwise, feel free to mix & match) and there are 2 small applicators included (I’m not a fan of these types of included applicators as I prefer to use my own brushes – plus, I feel that the space allotted for the applicators could have been put to better use here, by enlarging each shade in the centre section instead. But maybe that’s just me). Where the Or Vendôme palette really comes into its own, however, is with the actual shades … that are nothing less than absolutely gorgeous.

The surface of each eyeshadow bears a textured look – almost like that of raw silk – which becomes quickly smoothed out with use. The shades are finely milled and emit very little powdery kickback when brushes are swirled through them, and all can be applied with either a dry brush for a light wash of colour (that is still buildable), or with a dampened brush for more impact, drama, and intensity. The colour breakdown, with 1 & 2 being the two largest shades in the compact, respectively:

warm taupe with rose-gold undertone, satin finish
soft gold with a peachy undertone and slightly more visible gold flecks, satin finish
sooty charcoal with slight pink & blue reflects (very understated), satin finish
milk chocolate brown, satin finish
pale gold (warm-leaning), the most shimmery finish of the five

As seen in the swatches below, applying these shades damp also serves to bring out all their complex qualities, with each individual shimmer becoming more apparent, but still well within a very wearable context. The beauty of the Or Vendôme palette, is that while the theme may be gold, I feel it falls closer to the neutral/nude range, and as such these are selections you’ll want to turn to over and over again – although that doesn’t take away from the fact that these shades can also be amped up for a more sophisticated evening look, if desired.

Lancôme | Or Vendôme Smoky Eyes Palette, limited edition

Lancôme | Or Vendôme Smoky Eyes Palette, limited edition (swatched dry)

Lancôme | Or Vendôme Smoky Eyes Palette, limited edition (swatched damp)

For some reason, I don’t own many Lancôme palettes in my beauty arsenal, but after having played with the Or Vendôme palette these past few weeks, that’s all about to change. The versatility of this palette – both in terms of colour/payoff and dual nature (as in the shades being able to be worn wet or dry), makes this a worthy investment, especially if you’re a fan of neutral shades like I am, while the superb quality overall, just sweetens the deal. The only downside, is the fact that it’s a limited edition item – which is a damn shame, as something like this needs to be part of the permanent lineup. Listen up, Lancôme.

Still available now, while supplies last at counters. Visit www.lancome.ca for more brand info.

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Creams

January 16, 2015

There has been a noticeable shift in the world of beauty towards paying more attention to skincare, as by now we all understand that our makeup will look only as good as the canvas (i.e.: the face) that it’s applied to. Asia has long been a leader in this regard, as Asian women can be somewhat obsessive when it comes to caring for their skin (something I can relate to & am totally on board with, so good on them!) and the latest trend to rise from this need, is a new generation of sleeping packs – products meant to transform your skin overnight. First out of the starting gate is Garnier with the Miracle Sleeping Cream™ (Night & Eye versions) newly added to their Ultra-Lift range, that claims to ‘combat the signs of aging and fatigue’ while helping to regenerate your skin.

Since first being introduced to these creams at the Garnier media preview a few weeks ago (you can read about the event here), I have been [religiously] using both products and am ready to share my thoughts, but first, a little background:

According to researchers at Garnier, fatigue is now considered the #1 concern related to aging, and you can blame our lifestyles for that; sleeping less due to busier schedules, which contributes to wrinkles, as well as loss of firmness/tone in the skin. Oh joy.

The period of time where our body does its most effective regenerative work, is while we sleep, which has to do with chronobiology; that’s when our skin activates its natural reparative mechanisms, and Garnier is tapping into this source with the help of their new Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Creams™. According to the company:

“Formulated with a brand new polymer, this compound takes a toning, elastic form that can hold droplets of oils and active ingredients within the cream’s texture, enabling their properties to be preserved as much as possible. Upon contact with fingers, the polymer is irresistibly attracted to the skin, leaving an ultra-flexible film on the face. Once it is left, the polymer returns to its dynamic form, providing great coverage and allowing the texture to act like a ‘conveyor belt’ that helps the active ingredients to penetrate the skin”.

Spotlight on the 7 Active Ingredients:

LHA – a highly effective active ingredient that has been developed to boost radiance
ADENOSINE – helps to combat the signs of aging caused by fatigue
EXTRACT OF ALBIZIA – a powerful antioxidant that combats fatigue, helping to control dull skin tone and unevenness and reduces wrinkles
HYALURONIC ACID – intensely hydrating
EXTRACT OF RUSCUS – used to boost skin’s microcirculation
JOJOBA OIL – helps to strengthen the skin’s natural barriers
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL – helps improve the quality of sleep and combat the signs of aging

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Cream

Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Cream (CAN $24.99) | Housed in a palm-sized cobalt blue glass jar (to help preserve the integrity of the ingredients against exposure to light), this pale pink-tinted cream has a noticeable fragrance: fruity, soapy, & slightly floral – not unpleasant, but definitely something to note for those with sensitivities. The texture, is where things get fun; kind of bouncy (think: Jell-O) with a cream/gel feel when you rub it between your fingers, and one which reverts relatively quickly back to a smooth surface in the jar. Meant to be highly nourishing/hydrating, but with a lightweight feel upon the skin.

My Skin: combination/oily, crows feet around my eyes (or as I like to call them, ‘laugh lines’), slight unevenness due to some hyper pigmentation on my cheeks, chin, & forehead (SPF and safe sun practices were unheard of, back in the day), loss of elasticity in the jawline area, a bit of seasonal skin roughness (noticeable during the Winter for the most part).

Thoughts: There’s a cooling sensation felt upon first applying this cream to the skin (although it doesn’t last long), and as this formula is quite rich in actual feel, a little definitely goes a long way. My usual routine before bed, is to start by removing all traces of makeup (I never, ever skip this step – even when I’m bone tired and it’s the absolute LAST thing I want to do) then I cleanse and/or exfoliate (I alternate with using a mild exfoliant type cleanser and my Clarisonic Aria). After towel-drying my skin, I take a pea-sized amount of the Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Eye Cream first and apply that on the skin under both eyes, patting it in (I also dab some on my upper eyelids), followed by dotting my cheeks, forehead, and chin with the Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Night Cream then massage it gently in, making sure to not skip my nose and ear lobes (TIP: don’t neglect this last area, ladies: ear lobes tend to show a significant amount of aging, as do elbows and knees). I then further follow up with a light application of the Night Cream along my neck, jawline, and just above the décolletage area (North American women usually apply their moisturizer by staying well within the boundaries of the face; European women, on the other hand, also include the neck and upper chest).

Result: From the very first application, I can’t say that the years melted off my face (I wish), but I did notice several things: I woke up to a more even-looking complexion, but more importantly, my skin actually felt totally hydrated, velvety-smooth, and with absolutely no evidence of roughness at all (electric heating + harsh Canadian Winter weather = all kinds of nasty to my skin). After 4 consecutive weeks of using both products consistently, my skin continues to look more even, slightly plumper in certain areas (such as: under the eyes, along the cheeks and middle of forehead), and even my pores seem less noticeable. Without the equipment needed to proper analyze if the depth of any wrinkles has actually decreased, I can say that overall, some fines lines appear to be somewhat smoothed out, although not erased completely – but much less visible. As I said above, the texture and feel of this cream upon my skin, may fall on the rich side but when I wake up, it always feels completely absorbed.

One other thing worth mentioning, is that this cream is meant to worn at night ONLY, so don’t try doubling up by applying it as a day cream as well.

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Cream (ingredients listing)

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Cream swatch

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Eye Cream

Miracle Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Eye Cream (CAN $24.99) | Based on the same principles and formulation as the Night Cream, the Night Eye Cream has a similar auto-smoothing texture, albeit the formula appears more gel-like to me and is transparent (with just the slightest pink tinge). Also included among the ingredients to help fight dark circles under the eyes as well as the look of puffiness and fatigue, are ‘rare plant ingredients’, along with caffeine. Not as strongly scented as the Night Cream, and feels like it absorbs quicker into the skin, with no greasy after-feel.

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Eye Cream (ingredients listing)

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Eye Cream swatch

Bottom line: I enjoyed the feel of both products on my skin, as well as the results I attained. From the brand that was one of the first to introduce BB Creams to North America, this skincare first is poised to be equally successful, especially when you consider the price point. Did it perform miracles? Not yet, but neither was I let down with either cream; in fact, I continue to have soft, smooth skin which feels so well nourished, I can almost skip applying a daytime moisturizer (which I won’t). The only downside I can name, is that it is a little strongly scented, as I find most Garnier products to be – that’s something I wish this brand would seriously look in to, as skincare should be more felt, than smelled. Other than that, if you’re in the market to try out a product that thus far has delivered on its claims, then I suggest you give the new Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™ Night and Eye Creams a look. Sweet dreams.

Available now at all mass-market retailers. Find more information on the brand by visiting www.garnier.ca

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

Garnier | New Product launches for 2015

January 15, 2015

A few weeks ago, select members of the media and I were invited to attend the preview launch of several new Garnier products that have just started making their appearance onto store shelves. The event was held at NINI Meatball House – a quaint & cozy eatery in the heart of trendy Griffintown (Montréal), and while the weather may have been a little on the uncooperative side, the atmosphere at the event more than made up for that.

After a short and informative presentation about the products, we sat down to enjoy one of the most delicious lunches I’ve had in a while (some drooling over my food pics, below, is guaranteed). The place card for each guest was a lavender-scented soy candle in a covered tin and personalized with each person’s initials, while mini bottles of antioxidant rich smoothies (there were 2 varieties – day & night versions) from Montréal’s own Glow Cleanse (you can read about my experience with this brand here) were freely available to try or take home.

With Garner set to launch so many new skincare products (from the Clean, BB, and Skin Renew ranges respectively) the stars of the event, were undoubtedly the introduction of Garnier’s new Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™ Anti-Age + Anti-Fatigue Night Cream and Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™ Anti-Age + Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream (what’s with these ridiculously long names?). This new technology hails from Korea where ‘sleeping creams’ have been all the rage for some time now, and whose intention is to target one of women’s (and men’s) primary concerns: the look of dullness and fatigue upon the skin. The texture is unique as well – reminding me of a hybrid Jell-O/yogurt mixture (which sounds so much weirder that it is), and a bouncy, almost ‘self-healing’ quality to it … and which just feels so good upon the skin (both products have been put into major testing since that day, and I’ll be sharing my thoughts in an upcoming review).

A huge thank you goes out to all involved for inviting me to such a wonderful event!