Beauty Review: Guerlain Substantific Neck Decollete Treatment Spf 10

Promise:
Helps to stimulate the skin’s natural activity, the skin is intensely redensified, regains its natural consistency, plumped from within
Leaves skin looking more even and radiant, prevents the appearance of pigmentation marks

Product Profile in Short:
Non oily, richly textured neck and décolleté treatment enhances and smoothes these delicate areas

Close-up on Active Ingredients:
Active Ingredients:
Octinoxate (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) 7.5%
oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) 2.5%
Octisalate (ethylhexyl salicylate) 1.0%,
avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane) 0.5%

Other ingredients:
aqua
c12-15 alkyl benzoate
Isohexadecanebutylene glycol
Hydrogenated coco-glycerides
Glycerine
Steareth -21
Stearyl alcohol
Glyceryl stearate
Cera alba (beeswax)
Aluminum starch octenylsuccinate
Polyacrilamide
Octyldodecanol
Oryzanol
Parfum
Cetearyl alcohol
Methylparaben
….
All the active ingredients mentioned at the beginning are compounds used to block UVA and UVB rays. I like the fact that this décolleté cream has SPF, I wish it was a bit higher than just 10 though.

Experience:
Texture: very thick, not oily
Fragrance: no fragrance

The first thing I notice about Substantific Neck and Décolleté Treatment is the thick texture. It has a luxurious feel to it but I find it too thick and not so easy to massage into skin. So I try applying this cream on the skin still damp from the shower and it works. Substantific Neck and Décolleté Treatment feels very rich but not oily and gets fast absorbed by the skin. The fragrance is sweet and quite pronounced, be prepared! After application the skin feels very soft and moisturized. However after a month of use I didn’t see such dramatic changes in décolleté area as I did when I used Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Neck Cream. It didn’t start to look smoother… it did look and felt moisturized but that is it.

Price Tag:
100-120$

Bottom Line:
Nice product, but maybe you need to use more than one jar to see anti-aging results.

Read more about Guerlain products

Beauty Review: Guerlain Success Eye Tech

Promise:
The eye area loses its heaviness, eyelids seem recontoured, wrinkles and f ine lines appear smoothed, dark circles and puffiness are reduced.

Product Profile in Short:
this eye cream has been specifically designed to help tone up the skin-support network and fight sagging.

Contains:
Eye Cellular Amber
Tensotrophin

Close-up on Active Ingredients:
Water
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Butylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
Glycerin
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Aluminum starch octenylsuccinate
Pentylene Glycol
Steareth-21
Glyceryl Hydroxystearate
Cetyl Alcohol
Stearyl Alcohol
Amber Powder
Phenoxyethanol
Stearalkonium hectorite
Steareth-2
Palmitic Acid
Stearic Acid
Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract
Silica
Dimethicone
Polyacrylamide
Propylene Carbonate
Tetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Xanthan Gum
………


Experience:
Texture: thick, not oily
Fragrance: no fragrance

I just love Guerlain’s Happylogy eye cream but recently I’ve been noticing that maybe it is becoming too light for me so, hoping to find another favorite, I decided to try other eye products by Guerlain.

I have mixed feelings about Success Eye Tech. On the positive side, it seems to work. It does temporarily reduce puffiness and provides lifting effect. You actually almost feel your skin getting tighter. Do not expect the puffiness to be completely gone. But your eyes will look more awake and fresh. It also seems to be nicely moisturizing as it nicely smoothes out lines around the eyes. Another plus for me was that I was not allergic to this cream. Sensitivity is often a problem with eye products. I also liked the texture because it did not feel oily or heavy on the skin. There was only one negative point. Though it is a single flaw, it’s quite important. Success Eye Tech has some occlusives that just “sit” on top of your skin. So it is not a very good base for makeup. When I apply concealer over it, I end up with a crumbly mess. However I noticed that if I apply very little of the Success Eye Tech cream it solves the problem. But then the question is weather such a small quantity provides the needed moisture and what about the puffiness…

Price Tag:
100-120$

Bottom Line:
It’s a shame that such an expensive product “crumbs” on the skin. However, since eye puffiness is a problem for me I would consider investing into Success Eye Tech. Maybe I would have some light cream to go under makeup and Success Eye Tech to treat puffiness.

Here is more information on Guerlain skin care products .

Beauty Shopping: Substantific Neck and Decollete Treatment

Just when I thought that I will never go more expensive than Clarins’ Advanced Neck and Decolte cream I bough about a month ago, I went completely insane and got Guearlain Substantific Densifying Nourishing Sculpting Neck and Decollete Treatment. It seems even more crazy because it is definitely for more mature skin than mine. Well, in my defense it doesn’t hurt to try it out and I wouldn’t have even looked at it if the sales girl didn’t lure me into buying it by offering all kinds of presents. Just look at this!
I got
Success Eye Tech Up-Lifting Wrinkle Reducer– deluxe sample

Super Aqua Lotion – Toner Optimum Hydration Resistance

Guerlain Beauty Discovery: Success Age Splendid Deep Action Oil Serum Face Sculpting, Success Eye Tech, Success Future Regenerating Toner

However the price for this décolleté cream is so high, I feel like I didn’t get those for free but I did buy them. As you remember I really wanted to get Guerlain Success Eye Tech for Christmas from my hubby – it was on my wish list I handed to him :-) However I guess the price a bit scared him! Lol! So now I get this wonderful deluxe sample of 5 ml and another one in the Guerlain Discovery Kit. I am thinking if it works for me I will use both samples, otherwise I will give the kit to one very good friend to try out. I am also planning to give her the Super Aqua Lotion. Even though it sounds absolutely gorgeous being highly moisturizing…. with the extract of a desert rose and all that, but I am not soooo big on toners so probably she will enjoy it more!

Watch out for my review. I know I am always very late with reviews but they do eventually get posted!

Put your mouse over a picture to see a price. Rotate with the help of arrows.

Beauty Review: Guerlain Meteorites Powder Pink Fresh

Packaging:
The powder box is made of cardboard which disappointed me at first. From the photos I saw online I was under impression the package will be incredibly beautiful – a combination of plastic or metal) with glass decorations. Well, it’s just carton. The only consolation is that it was inspired by Marie Antoinette and that such packaging is actually more eco friendly.


Shade:
Pink Fresh
It includes pearls of peach, light pink, dark pink (close to lavender), beige, gold, colors

Scent:
Meteorites Powder has quite strong sweet scent which most people like but not me. The good news (for me) is that it wears off almost immediately.


Stay-on Power:
It seems to last forever!

Texture and Finish:
Meteorites Powder comes in little multi-colored balls and is something between loose and pressed powder…
Gives glowy somewhat shimmery finish with a touch of color. The effect is buildable.

Experience:
I’ve been dreaming about this product for a long time and had to go through the agony of choice about the shade (read my Beauty Buy post) before I finally got it. It is one of the best investments in makeup I’ve made.

This magnificent powder makes your skin look glowing. It reflects and attracts light to the skin and makes it look simply gorgeous: supple, smooth, healthy and glowing.


Meteorites Powder comes with a puffy sponge which I don’t recommend to use. Not only it is inconvenient, the effect is worse and not so natural. I use my fluffy powder brush to apply Meteorites Powder. I just swirl the brush around the box and let it pick up enough powder. Be careful powder balls tend to stuck on brush bristles occasionally. Then I swipe it lightly all over my face. It has to be mentioned that from the very beginning I was concerned that Meteorites could be too shimmery for an all-over-face powder. However what I discovered after I played with it a couple times is that the effect of the glow is buildable. So if you give your face one or maximum two light swipes with your powder brush, it looks natural. However if you apply more, you will start seeing some color and more shimmer. That’s why I apply it once all over face and then several times on the apples of my cheeks and a finishing touch on the nose bridge. So Meteorites Powder in Pink Fresh can be used as a blush and believe me you do see the color. Some people when reviewing Meteorites say that Pink Fresh leaves almost no color on the skin, it is not completely true. I think it depends on your skin tone if the color is noticeable or not.

I also read in one of the reviews that Meteorites powder is good to use under your eyes to set the concealer. I tried it and think it looks good! Draws some light to the area.


Bottom Line:
Love the product. It is excellent quality, very versatile and allows to perfect the look of your skin. I would not recommend Meteorites Powder instead of a foundation or pressed powder as it is not made for covering skin flaws. But I would definitely recommend it to take your skin look to another level.

Price Tag:
$60-65

Beauty Buy: Guerlain Meteorites

If you could see me right now, you would laugh at a little happy dance I’m doing over here! Singing “Finally it has happened to me!” I bought the famous Meteorites powder by Guerlain. It took me such a long time to finally lay my hands on this precious powder. I wanted to get Meteorites a looong time ago. First I had other priorities and then I couldn’t decide on the right shade.

I started by trying all three shades available on various parts of my face at Guerlain counter. Beige Chic and Pink Fresh looked too shimmery to me. I didn’t notice much effect from the original Mythic shade. Puzzled I left the store empty handed. So I searched internet for reviews… and I twittered… and I asked around etc etc. I did notice many people were saying Meteorites Powder is not really shimmery and they are using it as an all over face powder. Which lead me to the thought: Maybe it was the wrong light when I tried it first... I decided to test it again. Also I've made up my mind almost 100% to go for the pink shade. From the reviews I read I got a feeling Beige Chic would be too dark for me and Mythic too translucent. In case Meteorites turned out to be too shimmery I could always use Pink Fresh just on the apples of my cheeks to bring some light and color to the skin.

I'll let you see inside this beautiful box in my upcoming review!
And so I did! I tested Meteorites again at Guerlain’s counter, this time only Pink Fresh, walked into a day light and my skin looked naturally glowing.... not too shimmery. Not to allow any doubts enter my mind I quickly paid and left :-)

My review is coming soon!

Look what I got to test as a thank-you-gift for my purchase! (I had to buy my favorite Happylogy eye cream though to get this. So I feel like I paid for it! ;-))

This little testing package for Success Future wrinkle minimizing, firming program includes:
Success Future Neck and Decolte Serum
Success Future Refining Toner
Success Future Serum (wrinkle minimizer, firming)
Success Future Day Care SPF 15

I have not yet decided if I should test it or give it to somebody who may better appreciate the wrinkle minimizing effects.

I also got quite a big sample of Orchidee Imperiale Complete Care Eye and Lip Cream. I think it will last me a couple weeks and I will be able to review it as well.

Related Posts
Beauty Buzz: Guerlain Terracota Collection Summer 2009
Beauty Review: Guerlain Exotic Paradise Eye Shadow Palette
Beauty Review: Guerlian Issima Secret Divin
Beauty Review: Guerlain Kiss Kiss Maxi Shine

Feel like shopping?
Buy Guerlian Meteorites online

Beauty Buzz: Guerlain Terracotta Collection

Please, welcome another makeup collection inspired by the exotic East! Guerlain’s Terracota became summer classics. And this year it has a mineral and natural touch to it! For example, it includes a mineral powder and mineral eye shadows, dry oil from the collection contains natural ingredient Roucou, a reddish-brown vegetable pigment. But lets have a look at all the treasures step by step.

Terracotta Mineral Flawless Bronzing Powder will give you a radiant and natural glow.

Fard Indien Mineral Eyeshadow (limited edition) offers intense colours and shimmering, radiant finish.
Available in 3 shades: 01 Paradise Sand, 02 Holy Smoke, 03 Jungle Dust.

Kajal Mineral Khol (limited edition) is to be used on the inner rim of the lower eye rim for emphasized captivating eyes.
Available in: 01 Black Fakhir

Terracotta Baume au Coeur High-Shine Soothing Lip Balm contains natural ingredients such as wild mango butter, marula oil and luffa oil. It promises to enhance your lips’ natural color and keep them moisturized and protected.
Available in 3 shades: 01 Rose Venus, 02 Coeur Caramel, 03 Cocoa Love

Gloss Cashmere Velvet Matte Gloss (limited edition) promises not to be sticky (Yay!) but very comfortable and velvety.
Available in 3 shades: 01 Rose Pondichery, 02 Beige Bengali, 03 Rouge Sultan

Terracotta Eau Sous Le Vent Soothing Moisturizing Mist enjoy perfume of Tiare Flower while improving skin hydration and enhancing your tan with this mist enriched with a vegetable protein.

Terracotta Huile du Voyageur Nourishing Dry Oil SPF 8 This dry oil will not only prolong and intensify your tan, it will also give a golden iridescent veil to your skin with tiny golden particles of mother-of-pearl.

Related Posts
Beauty Review: Guerlain Exotic Paradise Eye Shadows Palette
Beauty Buzz: Guerlain Exotic Paradise Collection - Spring 2009
Makeup Trends: Eyes Spring-Summer 2009

Beauty Review: Guerlain's Exotic Paradise Palette

Last week I bought Guerlain’s Exotic Paradise eye shadow palette from spring 2009 collection. I have been trying it out this week and I am so happy to say I like it!

Colors:
I bought this palette for the unusual selection of colors. I got so tired of browns or grays or pinks and wanted something different! The colors are great, they look good on my skin and go well with my green eye color. When I swatched these shadows at the counter I was worried that it's impossible to build up their intensity. But now I’m actually glad they are not very buildable. The intensity is just right and I feel that otherwise colors could look over the top and even vulgar. However I still would like it to have a bit more pigment!

Stay-on Power:
Maybe I haven't tested the stay-on power to the full yet. I wore these eye shadows only twice when I went out and when I come home I most often immediately take off my makeup. But I can say that colors stay nice and fresh for at least 3-4 hours!

Texture:
It's silky and has some shimmer but not too much. It applies smoothly and blends into skin very nicely.

Experience:
This palette comes with a little booklet that provides recommendations and tips on how to achieve three looks. Oliver Echaudemaison recommends to choose 2 complimentary colors for a subtle look: Highlighter + Velvet or Deign + Contour. To achieve a bolder look, choose the 2 contrasting tones arranged vertically: Highlighter + Design, Velvet + Contour. And for a sophisticated look Oliver Echaudemaison recommends to use all 4 colors.


Following some diagrams from this booklet I have done two simple looks based on these recommendations but with some slight adjustments.
Look 1: Highlighter + Velvet
In addition i applied just a touch of Contour along the upper outer corner of the eye and traced Highlighter along the lower lashline.

taken with a flash
Look 2: Highlighter + Design
I adjusted this look by tracing Contour along the lower lash ine.




Bottom Line:
Overall, I like this palette but I would still want to have more control over pigment intensity of the shadow so am not sure my next eye shadow will be from Guerlain.

Related Posts:
Beauty Buy: Exotic Paradise Eye Shadow Palette from Guerlains' Spring Collection
Beauty Buzz: Guerlain Makeup Collection 2009
Makeup Trends for Eyes - Spring/Summer 2009

Beauty Buy: Exotic Paradise Eye Shadow Palette from Guerlain's Spring Collection

I made up my mind and yesterday got this gorgeous Exotic Paradise spring palette from Guerlain. I'm in paradise now :-)

Isn't packaging beautiful? I also like the miniature suede case that keeps palette protected from scratching. (I wonder how quickly I will missplace it)

What I liked most about the palette is the unsusual selection and combination of colors. Truly exotic shades!





When I swatched the shadows at the counter, I was a bit disappointed by how sheer colors looked on the skin. It's impossible to build up intensity. Despite this I still love this palette! And I think the shades will look nice on the eyelids. I'll post photos when I try it out.


Related Posts
Chanel Makeup Collection Spring 2009
Estee Lauder Makeup Collection Spring 2009
Guerlain Makeup Collection Spring 2009
Clinique Makeup Collection Spring 2009

Makeup Trends Spring 2009 - Complexion
Makeup Trends Spring 2009 - Lips
Makeup Trends Spring 2009 - Eyes



Copyright: by Skin Care and Beauty Blog

Beauty Buzz: Guerlain Makeup Collection Spring 2009

Guerlain promises Exotic Paradise with their new makeup collection for spring 2009.


Exotic Paradise was developed by Olivier Échaudemaison and is like a hymn to spring. Colors for this luxurious collection have been inspired by the Garden of Eden. They range from shimmering emerald green to rich pinks and oranges. Limited Edition Eye Shadow Palette Ombre Éclat 4 Shades is a work of art! The colours are rich and sensual. Each shadow is embellished with pearly green leaf prints. Gorgeous!

Ombre Éclat 4 Shades
Paradis Exotique (404)

KissKiss Gloss
Orange Interdite (804)
Cerise Tentation 805)
Pomme du Desir (806)


KissKiss Couleurs Precieuses
Flushy Beige(557)
Forever Beige (558)
Corail Passion(559)
Rose Miami (579)


KissKiss Maxi Shine
Candy Shine (624)
Honey Shine (646)
Grenadine Shine (647)
Baby Shine (671)


Ombre Éclat - Single Shadow 10 new shades


Ombre Éclat Eye Primer
Guerlain Ombre Eclat Eye Primer is used as a base for eyeshadow and promises to ensure long-lasting color and no creasing.


I am so impressed... I definately will get something from this collection. Most probably the limited edition palette Ombre Éclat 4 Shades and maybe Eye Primer...

Photos by Sephora.com and bergdorfgoodman.com

Related Posts
Chanel Makeup Collection Spring 2009
Estee Lauder Makeup Collection Spring 2009
Guerlain Makeup Collection Spring 2009

Makeup Trends Spring 2009 - Complexion
Makeup Trends Spring 2009 - Lips
Makeup Trends Spring 2009 - Eyes

Copyright: by Skin Care and Beauty Blog

Beauty Review: Issima Secret Divin Skin Perfecting Anti-Ageing Serum by Guerlain

Product Tag Line:

A divine serum that enhances the skin’s beauty and delays the effects of time.

Product Profile in short:

(as described on Guerlain Website)

In an instant skin looks smooth, even, matte, and incredibly velvety

With every application skin’s quality is visibly improved

Promise:

“Imperfections and fine lines are smoothed away, the pores tighten, skin becomes even, velvety… incredibly radiant with a matte finish, just like the skin of an angel”


What’s Inside:

Guerlain does not provide details about the active ingredients neither on their website nor in the product booklet. From these two sources we can only find out that Secret Divin contains Anti-Ageing Complex and Blue Gold
Close-up on Active Ingredients:
Water
Cyclopentasiloxane- skin-conditioning agent - emollient
Dydroyized Adansonia Digitata Extract – baobab extract, emollient, antioxidant, improves skin’s elasticity
Butylene Glycol - humectant
Glycerin - humectant
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate – emollient used for skin conditioning
Polymethyl Methacrylate – film forming agent (polymer of methyl methacrylate)
Polysorbate 20 – emulsifier, helps to stabilize emulsions and suspensions
Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer – silicone polymer, adds luster, sheen and creates slippery feeling to skin products
Polyacrylomide – polymer of acrylamide monomers, film forming agent
Algin –. substance obtained from marine algae (seaweed), used to stabilize creams and make skin supple
C13-14 ISOPARAFIN - thickener or gelling agent, emollient
Perfume
Titanium Dioxide – A natural white mineral pigment, used to give opacity to face powder, eye shadow, also used in full-spectrum sunscreens to protect skin from UVA and UVB
Sorbitol - humectant
…
Wheat Germ Protein - emollient and antioxidant
…
Silica – talc-like powder, absorbs excess oil, in some sources is also described as emollient, conditioning agent
…
Gold
…
Geraniol – maskin tonic, according to cosmeticsdatabase.com, it has a risk hazard rate of 5 out of 10 and in some studies showed skin irritation at very low doses
…
Plankton Extract – antioxidant, skin-conditioning
Limonene - synthetic flavoring substances, many sources say it’s skin-sensitizing.
…
Parabens

So now we know the Secret Divine to angle’s skin. As I understand from several polymers on the list it mostly relies on film-forming and masking agents. I think, due to all of the masking ingredients and Silica, Titanium Dioxide, skin looks lighter and the tone looks more even. There are several humectants and emollients on the list which is great for moisturizing. Emollients also contribute to that smooth soft feeling and look by conditioning the skin.

I expected something better in terms of anti-oxidants since in the description of the product there is an emphasis on the anti-oxidant protection.

Experience

Texture: light fluid, light creamy pink color, has tiny reflecting particles
Smell: light sweet perfume

Upon application skin immediately feels smooth to the touch. Before I looked closely at ingredients I thought there must be something powdery and something that creates a film on the skin’s surface. I was right. After the first tactile impressions, you start noticing that the pores are smaller and skin not only feels but looks smoother. It also looks matte. So all of these effects you see immediately. Unfortunately, in a week I have developed sensitivity towards this product. It could have been one of the many polymers or Geraniol… I have no idea… but upon application my skin felt tight and in a couple minutes it felt itchy. So I couldn’t see results of a long-term use and cannot comment on how skin’s tone evens out in the long run. However, I do still use this product from time to time. For example I apply it for a couple days before events to quickly improve the look of my skin.

Price Tag:
About 80-90$ (= 55-65 Euro)



Related Posts:
Beauty Brand: Guerlain
Beauty Review: Happylogy Eye: Glowing Eye Care
Beauty Review: Guerlain Kiss Kiss Maxi Shine Lisptick
Guerlain's New Makeup Collection Autumn 2008
Beauty Shopping: Guerlain's Boutique in Paris, Champs Elyses


Get more information about Guerlain skin care and makeup or shop for Guerlain's products online