Recently in Serum Category

I saw this roller thing at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills and without thinking I touched the roller not knowing it was full of really tiny and really sharp pins! It didn't hurt or anything when I got pricked but I was startled. Of course I had to ask what it was for. The Leaf & Rusher line is developed by a plastic surgeon and nurse from a Beverly Hills practice, their clintele is a long list of A-lister celebrities who do the advertising for them because they do not. Their Active Serum
($118) contains Retinol and Vitamin C to improve the surface of the skin but when used with the Derma Roller ($118), it penetrates the skin 4000% more than with just a topical application. Makes sense to me. So you apply the serum first, then lightly roll the Derma Roller over the entire face avoiding the eye area. The 90 surgical grade pins pushes the serum into the skin but because our skin is super thin, the pins are actually very very short so it will not hurt or cause bleeding. I was rolling it all over my hand and although it did not feel good, it also did not hurt and I imagine with regular use it will no longer bother me. Very interesting, right? I am pretty sure I can benefit from this roller with any type of serum or even a glycolic peel, although don't take my word for it, I am no doctor. Just telling you what I plan on doing =)

I have had my share of hard nights-- in my 20's it was from dancing all night, but now in my 30's it was mostly from my son. Teething, fevers, stomach bugs, ear infections, you name it and he's gotten it since starting pre-school at age 3. But I can't blame him for all of my hard nights. There are the few occasions when I'm working in NYC and have to stay up late at events (I know, such torture to have to attend parties, right?). You all should know the effects of hard nights-- dry skin that lacks luster.

Well now there is a serum specifically created to tone, tighten and firm skin that's taken a beating. D'Andra's "Hard Night, Good Morning" is an aloe based formula that contains tighterners, antioxidants and essential oils-- just the answer to leave skin looking flawless and fresh-- especially after a late night with too many cocktails! Just don't expect it to cure your headache in the morning. The Serum is $155 here.

Best known for its highest quality stones and ability to combine gems in creations with extraordinary chromatic effects, Bvlgari is now exploring the beneficial properties of gem stones on the skin. Produced in Switzerland, each product contains Bvlgari Gem Essence; a formula of four extracts of fine and precious stones: sapphire, malachite, tourmaline and citrine. This unique formula provides three main benefits to the skin: radiance, nourishment and protection. There are three skincare programs: Precieuse Line, Lumiere Line and Cleansing Line. I received samples of the Precieuse line and am impressed with the luxurious and innovative line of skincare. The Serum Precieux felt lightweight but delivers a deeply hydrating formula that makes the skin appear younger immediately. It also left a very smooth texture which made it great to use during the day under make up. The night cream (Creme Precieuse Nuit) was equally impressive with a deeply nourishing texture that left my skin ultra soft and moisturized throughout the night. Available at Neiman Marcus North Park, call 214-363-8311 to order!

Bvlgari Serum Precieuse here

Bvlgari Creme Precieuse Nuit here.

For Fashion Week in New York, I got my makeup done by Cheri at the Fashion Suite at Waldorf Astoria, she did a great job but that is not what I was most impressed with. We were chatting and she mentioned that she is 50 years old and I almost fell off my chair! She looks 35, at most 38, I am not kidding. She is fair with delicate skin that usually ages prematurely. She then told me her secret and I immediately bought some. It is the Guerlain Super Aqua Serum for day and night moisturizing. It is made with extracts from a dessert rose and if you think about it, it makes total sense, the flower is able to thrive in dryness so there must be something to its DNA that I can definitely use! I mean, I live in LA and it is dry dry dry all year round. It shields the skin from the harmful environment so the hydration is allowed to stay in. She has been using this for 15 years and I am telling you, she has not aged since she first started using it because like I said, she looks 35! This thing is like a vampire's secret. I must and will stay my age forever =) At Sakes Fifth Avenue for $162.

I told you about Somme Institute Transport pads last year (my pores are clog free thank to them!) and I've been intrigued by the line ever since. If you want to try out its entire line of highly engineered vitamins (A, B3, B5, C and E) attached to proteins that penetrate deep in the skin to treat sun damage, discoloration, uneven skin tone, wrinkles, and dry and oily skin without spending a fortune, they now have a value pack for only $175! ($225 value plus the entire line would cost almost $500).  I just picked this up at Nordstrom and will be traveling to Fashion Week with it this weekend and to the Oscars in LA the following week.  The little color coded jars contain: - Step 1: Nourishing Cleanser (1 oz.): a non-foaming cleansing gel, non-drying, non-irritating. - Step 2: Transport (50 pads): pads saturated with AHA and BHA gently exfoliate. - Step 3: Serum (1 oz.): highly concentrated and stable vitamin C gel hydrates and evens skin tone. - Step 4: A-Bomb (1.5 oz.): lightweight moisturizing cream with high concentration forms of vitamins A and E. - Step 5: Double Defense (0.25 oz.): Moisturizing Sun Block SPF 30+. Somme Institute Value Set at Nordstrom.com

I've never been a huge fan of facials. I never seem to be able to relax -- something about people touching my face always makes me uncomfortable and because of my pale and sensitive skin I usually worry that I might breakout. That said, I've heard wonderful things about Jurlique's spa treatments included their facials, but I have yet to try them. What I have tried is some of their products. The Australian-based brand's products are free of artificial colors and animal content, are never tested on animals, and Jurlique also farms and harvests many of the organic herbs and flowers that go into its beauty products! They just came-out with a new Biodynamic Beauty range to address concerns of aging skin with a blend of biodynamic and organic herbs and flowers combined with naturally derived ingredients to soften fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration. The new collection is completely free of Parabens, Mineral Oils, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Synthetic Emulsifiers, Artificial Colors or Fragrances. After the jump get Amanda Dawson, Jurlique's Executive Director of Global Education, tips on how to create your own at-home spa treatment!

When I was in college at USC my favorite thing to do in the afternoons after classes was to hang out at Beverly Hills Neiman Marcus cosmetic counters.  I'm serious!  I made friends with the SAs at Chanel, Sisley, and La Prarie counters  so I'd be first to know about new products, sample products, etc. I was hanging around playing with make up one day and noticed a huge blemish on my forehead-- when I showed it to the SA, she handed me a sample of the Tropical Resin Complex from Sisley and told me to apply it to the blemish a few times a day and at night before bed. I told her I didn't think that would work and she said just to try it. I must admit that I am an extremist, if you tell me applying something a few times a day will work, I will apply it 10 times, just in case. So throughout that day I dabbed the complex on my giant pimple and at night I put a dollop on. The next morning, the pimple was gone and my forehead was smooth as silk. I was so shocked! I kept that little sample and used it periodically as I got blemishes. I forgot about it until I was at the Sisley counter the other day-- I couldn't believe it was still being sold! I haven't used it in almost 15 years but I asked for a sample again and when a pimple showed up yesterday-- I dabbed away and guess what. It still works. Since I don't have oily skin, I don't need to buy the entire bottle. If you do, however, and have outbreaks often-- you should really try this! $155 at Neiman Marcus.

Start saving-up now because La Mer has four fantastic new Gifts of Beauty for the 2008 season:) I've tried La Mer before, but only when I've skimmed some from my mother. Otherwise, though I'm the first to splurge on anything beauty-related, La Mer still remains out of the price-range I'm willing to spend. That said, for those looking to treat their face to the crème de la crème (literally since it's the name of one of their holiday offerings!), see what La Mer is offering this coming holiday season!
The Crème de la Crème-- 16.5 oz. Crème de la Mer in a limited edition round mother of pearl box, $1,390 - available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and lamer.com
The Luxury Essentials -- Crème de la Mer (2 oz.), The Lifting Face Serum, and The Eye Concentrate in a limited edition mother of pearl round box, $630 -- available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.
The Connoisseur Collection -- Crème de la Mer (2 oz.) and The Eye Concentrate in a pearlized holiday box, $395 -- available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue.
The Signature Collection -- Crème de la Mer (1 oz.), The Lifting Face Serum (15ml), and The Eye Concentrate (5ml) in a green cylindrical box, $240 -- available exclusively Bloomingdale's.

A few times a year, when mother nature wreaks havoc on my skin via seasonal changes, I order a bottle of Sisley Botanical Night Complex.  The instructions say to use it for 10 consecutive nights each month but I like using it nightly for a month at the beginning of a new season.  It hydrates and gets my skin normalized to the change in weather conditions.  The smell takes getting used to though, it smells like old socks but the radiant skin is totally worth it!

$255 at Sisley counters (it's sold out on Neiman Marcus.com) and I also found it here for 10% off.

What about you?  Do you change up your routine when the weather changes?

At the end of each summer, I am left with the marks of the hottest days of summer, tiny little freckles across my face!  It's a bizarre phenomenon, those freckles of mine.  They appear to be heat activated (because we all know I wear giant hats, SPF 45 AND sit under umbrellas when at pools or beaches).  I rarely allow sun rays to touch my face, so the fact that my face becomes pigmented at the end of the summer proves that they are indeed heat activated!  So, each year, I come up with a new solution to rid myself of these tiny freckles that my hubby deems "cute".  What does he know?  He thought my fabulous Rick Owens dress was a toga!  But that's another story altogether.  Back to me and my freckles-- I've been using Phyto+ from Skinceuticals (after being told the Hydroquinoe  I used from Dr. Obagi was too harsh and might possibly cause cancer-- UH WHAT?).  Anyway, ever since that bombshell, I've been using only botanical and natural solutions to the Asian girl's biggest skin woe. 

Two weeks ago, I started on a new product, L'Occitane's Very Precious Brightening concentrate.  I use it at night, before my 12 step routine and though my spots are still there, they are visibly lighter.  The concentrate is made of 100% organic plant dry oils that disappear into the skin quickly and leaves no oily residue.  Each bottle contains the equivalent of 3,000 flowers combined with a vitamin C derivative.  Only time will tell the true effect of the oil but for now, I am enjoying the nightly facial massage I give myself with it.  At L'Occitane stores was $82 but on sale now for $58!!!  

When Chanel comes calling, one must respond, and quickly.  Over Fashion Week, I was invited to a Chanel Beauty event and though I had fashion shows, showroom visits, and interviews that day with designers such as Oscar de la Renta-- I said yes.  One just does not say no to Chanel!  At least not one who has been obsessed with Chanel since college and who used to keep Chanel boxes in one's college apartment stacked wall to wall and floor to ceiling only so one can admire the prettiness of the black and white boxes daily. 

I've extolled on the virtues of the Sublimage eye cream often (remember the time I drove to Barneys in a thunderstorm and almost crashed my car on the freeway in an effort to apply my drug I mean eye cream on the way home?) but have never experienced the entire line so I knew I was in for a treat.  I did not expect the eye candy that greeted me, however, from the Sublimage line to its new Winter make up collection (which you will read about next week)-- Chanel knows how to throw a girly girl party!  We got our nails done, our necks massaged, and did I mention the delicious array of hors d'heurves and finger sandwiches?  I could have taken a nap after all that pampering-- all that was missing was my pajamas!