Reader's Request: Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Balm Review

You know what the number one problem is when it comes to fine lines under your eyes? Dry skin.

The delicate area under your eyes can occasionally become very dry especially as you age this in fact causes fine lines to look worst than they actually are. At least that's been the case for me.

Your best possible defense against dry skin and fine lines is keeping things as moist and hydrated as possible. Believe me I used just about everything and the kitchen sink to keep the delicate skin under my eyes as moisturized as possible but sometimes even that isn't it enough.

Solution?

Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Balm...miracle in a glass jar.




Check it after the jump!

What is it?

It's a herbal scented balm that resembles vaseline but with a harder texture.

What's it do?

Depuffs, moisturizers, hydrates, soothes, protects, and erases signs of fatigue such as dark circles.

Does it work?

Hells to the yes!


Trust me I'm a Doctor, I think David Tennant said that at one point...but anyway....here's the scoop. Yes, it depuffs, yes it moisturizes, yes it hydrates, yes it improves fine lines (due to dryness) under your eyes, and yes it fights the signs of fatigue but no it doesn't erase dark circles.

So.....

I gave up everything I normally slather under my eyes aside from my AM eye cream to use this for a week and a half. Honestly, that's too short a time to really test it out but the fact is I seen such a dramatic difference since I started might as well tell you the good word now.

It sports a consistency of a balm or a salve hence the name eye balm doh. All you need to do is gently pat it under your eyes and go to bed. Next morning you'll be singing in praise how great you look. It gives an intense shot of good moisture to my dry skin, hydrates it, and does a slight depuff action, LOVE! It also makes me look quite refreshed. Actually when I wake up the following morning it isn't totally absorbed into my skin, it kinda sits around and moisturizes all through the night as I sleep. It's rather ideal if you have some serious dry skin going on. Fact of the matter is if I don't moisture well my fine lines look incredibly bad but when I do get proper moisture you can barely see them and thus the case with this balm. It gives me so much moisture that my fine lines virtually disappear making me look younger, fresher, and flawless.










It's not for everyone.

Thing is I love it but I know that people will likely feel it's like slathering vaseline under your eyes. Not the case as it's a balm and it has a harder texture with a bit of a tacky formula. It could prove to be uncomfortable for some or you may get an "ick" factor after use as it never fully absorbs. As for me I could care less since it gives me all the moisture I crave and than some. I can suffer through a little stickiness for that.

It comes housed in a heavy glass jar and yes sadly you'll have to be dipping your fingers around in there...hello bacteria...only thing I can suggest is to be sure to always use clean hands prior to use. I find that swirling my finger in it with gentle pressure will make the product easier to use as first try it is quite hard and feels like you're not using anything at all. A pressured swirl will get it "worked" up so to speak.

It's $60...honestly, that could be a bit much to drop on a simple balm considering for that chunk of change you can invest in a good quality eye cream. For me it's priceless since it simply works and hey that's what I'm paying for right?

So far, it's on my incredible list. After I'm through with this (which won't be anytime soon as the jar is huge with a ton of product since a little goes a long way) I'll be running to the store for another.

Very good stuff, Muse Approval for purchase.



Overall, if you need to tame the puff, erase the fine lines, and get a super dose of moisture under those tired, dry eyes, Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Balm does the deed and does it well.

Loves it.

L'Oreal Revitalift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream Review

Nothing like watching Cher prance around in a see through fishnet body suit right? Makes you just want to turn back time. Obviously Cher is doing something right as she looks pretty incredible.


Maybe she's using L'Oreal Revitalift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream to turn back her time. I know I seriously need to turn back the clock when it comes to my eyes. The Muse does so sport fine lines, a bit of puff, and dark circles.




Jump ahead for the deets on the new L'Oreal Revitalift Eye Cream.

I'm currently busy testing out a new eye cream so I haven't had a chance to try out L'Oreal Revitalift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream for myself but I'll give you the low down on what it is, what it does, and what I think of it so far.




First off the Muse loves the idea of the concept. It's a dual ended eye cream with an AM and PM formula. I absolutely adore this idea and wish more brands would sport such an ideal form of packaging for eye cream. It's so very convenient to have two formulas in one design. I don't have to reach for another cream at night I simply flip the applicator and have my night treatment. I love the applicators on each one as well. The PM has a needle nose applicator which allows for precise application of the treatment without over doing it. The AM has a typical slant applicator which also allow for easy application and even blending if you're wanting to touch your eye area.








Now this is for serious deep set wrinkles and contains Pro-Retinol A+ for treating such. I don't have deep wrinkles as of yet but it's never to early to start worrying about them. The formula supposedly reduces the appearance of deep-set wrinkles.

The AM formula contains an SPF 15 and helps repair broken skin fibers around the eye area. The PM formula contains the same fiber restoring fibers and helps to repair and rebuild broken skin fibers. Pro-Retinol A accelerates skin renewal for a smoother, revitalized skin. The treatment begins to work immediately according to the box but the best results are seen within 4 to 8 weeks.

The treatment is $19.99 so it's quite affordable if you're wanting to look towards a drugstore for your eye treatment. Overall, it sounds promising but I can't take full advantage as I don't have deep set wrinkles as of yet but anyone who's reaching a point where they need extra treatment in this area could likely benefit.

L'Oreal Revitalift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream is available now at your local drugstore.

Want It: Lush Oatifix Fresh Face Mask

Although I'm the first one to admit that my beloved Lush does have some products that don't work.....

Ahem....Lush Fresh Face Mask.

No worky.

I've tried them all and I honestly never see incredible results after use. You'd think with all those good for you bits inside that your face would be glowing after use, not so much.

But that doesn't stop me from wanting the brand new Lush Oatifix Fresh Face Mask. It's too tempting with it's blend of fresh bananas, oatmeal, almonds, and vanilla..god my stomach is grumbling sounds good enough to eat to me!

Ground almonds exfoliating dead skin, bananas are a great nutritious treat for your skin as they soften and reduce redness. Although I don't sport redness I could get on board with some extra softness.

I'll take two thanks so much.

Available now from Lush UK and soon to follow around the rest of this world.

Wants it!

Would You Buy It? Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair Cream

The Muse does so wonder how far are you willing to go for your skin? Me, I'd probably go far but not too far....

I recently came across Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair Cream and noticed that a 1oz size is $150 but that's nothing get this a 5oz size is $500 bucks!

Whoa.

Do you think it does dishes and walks the dog for that price?

This is an age-defying moisturizer which contains something called Peptide K8. Supposedly it's one of the most advantaged anti-aging ingredients ever. This is supposed to literally transform your face!

I actually find myself craving fine lines at the moment just so I can try it and see what happens...is that terribly weird?

Question is would you buy it for that price?

Jump ahead to hear my babble.

I'd possibly dish out $150 but I'm unsure I'd go for $500 dollars for a moisturizer. That's a bit above my budget and I sure could think of a dozen other things to do with $500 big ones and it doesn't involve moisturizer.

Ok, I'll be honest, I'm kinda second guessing even $150 bucks....the most I'm willing to dish out for skin care of any kind is in the $50-$65 range.

How about you?

Big spender?

Would you buy Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair Cream?

What if I told you it takes out the garbage and gets wrinkles off your face?

Convinced now?

Tell the Muse!

Beauty on a Budget: Biore Skin Preservation Review

Too old for acne? Occasionally get a blemish here and there? Want a skincare regime that's affordable and meant for your 30 something skin?

The new Biore Skin Preservation Collection is a new line of skin care created exclusively for those of us who are well out of our teens and settling into a some what normal skin time.

This actually fits right in with my skin as is. My skin is pretty normal, no break outs or acne as I'm a bit too old for those days. It's dry in certain areas, a bit uneven at time, even dull, and of course it suffers on a rare occasion with a pimple or two. It's in between skin which is exactly what the new Biore Collection caters too!

Jump ahead for a peep at the new collection!

Although the Muse normally relies on Lush and as of late H20+ as her skin care of choice she's quite a fan of Biore and thinks they make great items at an affordable price. If you're wanting a skin care line with an inexpensive price tag to address issues such as fine lines, uneven skin tone, blackheads, etc.....but you aren't of an age where your skin is completely out of a wack ala your teen years this new collection should suit. The new line consists of several items for moisturizing, exfoliating, and cleansing your skin.

One item that was particularly interesting is the Biore Self Preservation Dual Fusion Moisturize + SPF 30 ($15). Hmmm SPF 30 in a drugstore brand? Coolness. This dual phase moisturizer hydrates as it defends against UVA and UVB. The packaging is actually a dual pump which evenly distributes sun protection and moisturizer. For something that contains SPF it's incredibly lightweight and non greasy.




Biore Self Preservation Clean Things Up ($7) is a gel cleanser which is incredibly gentle on the skin. Some Biore cleansers have dried me out in the past but this is quite gentle and washes clean away. This fresh scented cleanser starts out as a gel and gently lathers up on your face rinsing away dirt and grime.


Biore Self Preservation Even Smoother ($15) is a smooth exfoliating scrub to gentle buff away dry skin and reveal brighter, even skin.


Biore Self Preservation Hard Day's Night ($15) is a night time moisturizer for alleviating dryness and dullness. It's quite lightweight for an night cream but it manages to absorb easily and leaves my skin nice and fresh come morning. I haven't noticed any difference in dullness but I've only been using for a week so far.


Biore Self Preservation See the Future Eye Cream ($15) is the newest eye cream in the Biore line. This sports a straight tip applicator quite like the Prescriptives Wrinkle Treatment that was recently released. The tip allows for precise application of the cream. Supposedly it brightens dark circles, fights fine lines, and battles puffiness. I haven't used it as of yet as I'm busy testing a new eye cream but I'm quite curious how well it will do combating my under eye woes! I wish more eye creams sported an applicator like this as I'm a victim of using way too much eye cream sometimes.




Overall, the entire Biore Skin Preservation line is a tad higher when compared to other Biore products however drugstore's always have sales and these particularly pieces are a tad more posh taking the SPF and the likes into consideration. If you're seeking a good quality skincare with a decent price tag I'm always one for recommending Biore.

The entire collection is available now at your local drugstore.

Visit www.biore.com for further info.

I know ALL of you use Biore!

Tell me what are some of your favs?

Mine are of course the Nose Strips!

Beauty News: Bourjois Paris Launches Makeup Removers and Cleansers

The Irish Beauty Blog girls have the scoop on the new Bourjois Launch Makeup Removers and Cleansers that release this Fall in the UK. Gawd, I hate that we don't get any of the good stuff here!


Here's the deets:
Bourjois Paris Fresh Cleansing Milk (suitable for dry)
Bourjois Paris Vitamin Enriched Toner
Bourjois Paris Express Eye Makeup Remover (two-phase formula to remove all types of eye makeup)
Bourjois Paris Foaming Cleansing Cream (suitable for dry)
Bourjois Paris Express Cleansing Wipes

The Muse thinks she needs it all. I guess I'll have to be hunting down a clever Brit to snag me some of the goods upon release.

Now if we could only tempt Bourjois back to US waters.....

Source

Bizarre or Unusual Beauty Secrets 101

We all know celebs are out there living the high life, we should all be so lucky and of course with all that money floating about one is bound to get bored. The Muse's theory is the more money you have the more likely you are to adapt a bizarre, possibly unusual beauty regime. It's true right? You have a ton of cash and you've tried every lotion and potion on the market and now you're bored...might as well try something different to spice things up right?

Check out some possibly unusual beauty treatments that celebs and share your own!

Catherine Zeta-Jones
Strawberries
Malic acid acts as an astringent to remove discoloration on teeth. Combining with baking powder, strawberries become a natural way to clean teeth.

Cindy Crawford
Milk
Cleopatra was well known for bathing in milk and honey. Milk is a luscious skin treat when it is added to bath water. Milk exfoliates, softens and nourishes the skin.

Debra Messing
Snake Venom
Supposedly is a great ingredient in anti-wrinkle treatment. I haven't seen any skin care sporting it as of yet but than again I don't have Debra Messing's bank account, must be shopping in the wrong places!

Jennifer Love Hewitt
Toothpaste
Ahhh we've all tried this home remedy I'm sure, a little dab of toothpaste for my pimples. Toothpaste acts as a mask treatment to dry out pimples and reduce their size. Some toothpastes contain menthol or alcohol which accounts for the drying properities and the reduction of a pimple size.

Sandra Bullock
Hemorrhoid Cream
Personally anything that's normally used for your butt would not be touching my face but if Sandra Bullock likes it good for her! Supposedly it's great for wrinkles.

Halle Berry
Coffee
The idea is to mix coffee with some sort of body lotion to buff away cellulite. Can't say if it works but plenty of people swear by it!

Julia Roberts
Olive Oil
Rubbing olive oil into nails and cuticles will keep them soft and moisturized

Eva Longoria
Placenta Protein
Word on the street is that placenta contains highly proteins, vitamins, and such to help skin regenerate.

Teri Hatcher
Wine
Dunno if Teri's drinking in it or bathing in it although the Muse has heard that a glass of vino a day keeps the old ticker beating happy and healthy...not sure about skin though!

Do you have any unusual beauty regimes?

Me, I don't think I really have any. I'm not one for trying out home remedies and the likes so I can't say I really used any of the above treatments.

How about you?

Share 'em!

P.S. I do not endorse any of the above treatments nor do I suggest you try them. I'm not a doctor or a dermatologist and have no way of knowing the effects of these treatments on skin. Always be safe when attempting anything new on your skin. This post is for entertainment purposes only. Whether or not if the following celebs actually use these treatments is entirely speculation please see the source for more information.

Source

Reader's Request: Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil Review

Thanks to a few of my reader's who brought to my attention that Bobbi Brown now has a brand new oil cleanser. Yay for oil cleansers. Nothing gets makeup off my face better than a good oil cleanser. I'm a big lover of Shu Oil Cleanser and many other smaller Asian brands as well so of course I'm quite excited to see Bobbi getting in on the game.

Honestly, not many brands cater to oil cleansers outside of Asia aside from Shu and most recently MAC so it's great to see Bobbi Brown is making one too.

As requested here's a review of the new Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil.

If you haven't used oil cleanser prior to this I'll give you a brief break down of how it works. With a face full of make up you'll take 2-3 pumps of oil and move it in circular motions around your face. This is on your dry face no water involved. As you rub, with the aid of the oil, makeup will begin to break up and away on your skin. Adding a tiny bit of water to your face will emulsify the oil allowing it to further break up foundation, eye makeup, etc....now you'll rinse...done. You'll be left with completely clean, soft skin. Although it sounds strange to those that haven't tried it, the oil, does not leave your skin oily or greasy in anyway it rinses clean away and is ideal for any and all skin types.


Bobbi's version is 6.7 oz in size and $38 where as Shu's version is $35 and 5 oz. Although I like Shu very much, it's likely Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil will take the place of my Shu one because of price and formula.




The oil is a nice herbal scent and seems thicker compared to others I've tried. It glides onto my skin very nicely, breaks up makeup, and rinses clean away. I like the texture and the feel of the oil as it has a richer consistency compared to my normal brands. It removes makeup on contact and leaves my skin soft and smooth.

Overall, if you aren't used to purchasing high end skincare this could prove an indulgence. Personally, I absolutely love it and will be replacing my current high end brand with this. It's elegant bottle, bigger size, and incredible ability to remove all traces of makeup make it a winner for me.

Loves it!

Muse Approval for purchase.



Do you use oil cleansers?

Which are your favs?

Share it!

Reader's Request: Kenzoki Fresh Lotus Water Review

A few months ago I fell in with Kenzo Belle de Jour which is so above my budget but I can't help it, it's love people.

After writing my review I got a few e-mails asking me further about Kenzo Belle de Jour and I found a few fellow fans of the moisturizer. It was a relief knowing I wasn't the only one in love with such an incredible cream, after all it is kinda expensive and I wasn't sure if anyone out in Internet-land was loving it as much as I was.

Now recently I got a few more e-mails thanking me for recommending Belle de Jour. This warms my heart. It always makes me so terribly excited when someone takes a chance on my recommendation, purchases the product, and ends up loving it. It's such a joy to hear success stories about people reading my review and enjoying the product as much as I do. Along with these kind words of thanks these fans told me, "But Muse if you loved Belle de Jour why haven't your brought us a review of Kenzoko Fresh Lotus Water..." I even had two readers telling me they must hear about it from me prior to purchasing it..blush..thanks guys!

Well, here, for your pleasure, is a review of Kenzoki Fresh Lotus Water which indeed, for fans of Belle de Jour, smells just as incredible.




Jump for it.

If you're not a lover of scented products look away dears, look away. But if you absolutely adore your skin care to have a beautiful scent stay close at hand while I tell you the joys of Fresh Lotus Water.

For a burst of cooling mist with the light, fresh scent of lotus this is your go to product for toning, hydrating, and waking up tired skin. This fresh water mist can be sprayed directly on face to prep skin prior to moisturizer or to end a hard night as a soothing toner.


The mist comes in a can and allows for a very fine cooling mist to be sprayed on skin. It's refreshing, cooling, and ever so slightly moisturizing. I found it's the perfect prep prior to applying Belle de Jour as it allows the moisturizer to absorb easily into my skin. Or it's rather perfect after removing my makeup to tone my face.

The formula key element is dew grass which is used in many Chinese medicine for it's reconstructing properties to promote and improve hydration in the skin.

I use alot of different mists on my face from Asia most of which are fairly cheap however one of the more expensive ones I lean towards will be replaced by this. It's price is a tiny bit higher at $28 but I can't forsake it's incredible scent and moisturizing benefits.






Overall, Kenzoki Fresh Lotus Water is a fabulous mister for restoring moisture to your face. During the long humid days of Summer I'll be using this to give my skin the hydration it needs minus my normal moisturizer which can prove to heavy for the heat. It's a fine mist for getting my face moist, refreshing tired skin, and working as a light moisturizer for Summer wearin' and tearin'!

Loves it!

Muse Approval for purchase!

H20+ Sea Results Renew Starter Systerm Review

Not sure if I got you all pumped about H20+ as of yet but if by chance I have and you're overwhelmed what to try first, you'll be happy to hear about the kits they offer. H20+ has several great skincare kits available so you don't have to choose to test one single large item that you may not like! You can get a selection of 3-4 items in one kit for a low price that allows you to test out a few choice offerings from H20+.

Right now it's my go to skincare and I'm enjoying the ride fully. I recently placed a haul order which I'll tell you more about later but for now let me introduce you to the H20+ Sea Results Starter System.






Jump for it!

These kits are available for a variety of skin problems and contain up to four items for a mere $19.50. It's a great way to introduce yourself to the line and see if you'll like it. So far I'm having great results with H20+ and I can possibly...gulp...see it replacing my Lush moisturizers.

The H20+ Sea Results Renew Kit contains a variety of items for cleansing and repairing skin. Particularly it concentrates on fine lines and wrinkles. The kit includes four items total in mini form.


You'll get:

H20+ Sea Results Sea Mineral Cleanser
H20+ Marine Toner
H20+ Sea Results Line Mender
H20+ Sea Results Eye Mender Plus

First off the item I loved the most that I'll will be purchasing a bigger size of would be the H20+ Sea Results Mineral Cleanser. I normally stay clear of cleansers that are of a cream consistency as they don't seem to work great at removing makeup. The formula of this is a moisturizing, loose, slightly runny cream. I'd probably miss on this if I had known of it's formula to begin with but I sure am glad I was oblivious as it's terrific! The formula is very gentle on my face and feels cooling and refreshing. You can literally feel it wipe away makeup and grime while refreshing the skin with a burst of moisturizing hydration. It doesn't leave me feeling tight or itchy after use and feels like I rinsed with cool water and naught else. Very nice stuff.


Now I wasn't too impressed with the H20+ Marine Toner. It feels well enough on my face but I didn't really notice anything particularly exciting about it aside from the fact it was simply a toner without much fanfare. Unexpected as I've grown used to great things from H20+ lately.


The other two items in the collection I can't say I've seen results as I've yet as it's only been a week and a half since I've used either. I will say the Eye Mender Plus is a great eye cream so far as it's creamy and very moisturizing. The Line Mender probably isn't useful as of yet since I don't have lines on my face that need mending, thank god, but I suppose it'll make a nice treatment regardless, can never start too early fighting wrinkles, even ones that aren't there.




Overall, the kit is a great little bang for your buck. H20+ Sea Results are available in any number of options from fine lines, to oil control, and even extra hydration so you don't have to settle on this particular kit you have options available depending on your skin type.

These are a fine deal and a great way to become neighborly with the brand.

Loves it!

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blackhead Minimizing Mask Review

Prior to taking over the world I first want to accomplish one major thing in regards to my almost perfect skin. I want to remove the icky, gross blackheads embedded in my nose without having to head to my dermatologist. I also wish to do this with a mask treatment that won't remove pieces of skin along with my blackheads.

Biore Nose Strips are an absolute dream come true but I have one or two pesky blackheads on the tip of my nose that hang out there and no manner of plucking will get those buggers out.

My goal was to get them off with something that was inexpensive and easy to find. In steps The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blackhead Minimizing Mask.

Click ahead for the review.

Believe me when I say I've used just about every Asian mask treatment around in hopes it would remove my blackheads without success. Particular attention has been paid to charcoal masks which remove skin but not blackheads....as in they rip the skin right off your nose, umm ouch!

Curiosity led me to The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blackhead Minimizing Mask which is readily available, doesn't have to be hunted down from abroad, and is fairly cheap. The mask can be used all over your face or on your nose where pesky little blackheads have been known to play and hide.

The mask is green in color and applies smoothly as it's a moisturizing cream at first. After dry down it becomes slightly harder and peels gently off hopefully whisking away blackheads and other nasties. I choose to use it as a nose treatment as that's where I have blackheads but I did go so far as using it all over my face as well since I was curious what sort of results I'd have as it does contain Tea Tree Oil which is great for mattifying skin.




I read a few reviews that said this hurt terribly when peeled off but I either have bulletproof skin or these people are super sensitive. It peels away fairly easy and doesn't hurt or sting or burn in anyway. At least not for me.

Now the results aren't so great sadly. As an all over treatment mask it works fairly well at soaking up excess oil but do keep in mind I'm not mega, slippery slidey oily. It mattifies my skin fairly well and my skin feels very nice the day after use so it's a great night time treatment prior to bed. As for blackheads on my nose it's a no go. It didn't clear up those pesky buggers in the least and they are still happily sitting on my nose. Yuk!








Overall, I'd say it's a fairly nice all over mask as it makes my skin feel quite refreshed and glowy after use and does a decent job of soaking up excess oil. As for a nose treatment I'd say it's a fail. It's fairly inexpensive so it won't break the bank to give a try for yourself. You might have better results than I did but for now I'm going to continue hunting for the cheapest and best way to get rid of those two stubborn blackheads on the tip my nose!