The Bottom Line
Aerin Holiday Style Palette
Aerin Holiday Style Palette $70 includes six eyeshadows in Laugh, Smoky, Love, Nightlife, Joy and Glow, and one highlighter in Gilt – “carefully selected to make application quick and easy no matter where the night takes you.” Available at Aerin.com. Aerin is the new beauty and lifestyle brand of Aerin Lauder, granddaughter of Estee. In [...]
Repêchage Natural Finish Pressed Powder
Repêchage Natural Finish Pressed Powder $32 for 0.31 oz./8.83 g. Available at repechage.com. “Shine-free and flawless complexion” with codium corallina (antioxidant-rich red seaweed that also serves as a protective barrier); Vitamin E and minerals; soothing, anti-inflammatory chamomile extracts; and titanium dioxide. Application: It felt light and smooth, but a little more obvious than I like [...]
Cellnique Derma Whitening Essence
Cellnique Derma Whitening Essence $73 for 30 ml. Available at Cellnique.com. “Promotes skin luminosity and reduces pigmentation,” with idebenone and licorice. Application: This is supposed to help with hyperpigmentation that comes with aging skin, and that would be me. The pump dispenses thick yellow lotion, which has a nice texture and absorbs into skin quickly. [...]
Urban Elements Defense Facial Serum by Izlla
Urban Elements Defense Facial Serum by Izlla $39 for 1 oz./30 ml. Available at izlla.com. With blue chamomile (for calming/anti-inflammatory qualities), green tea, olive squalane, pomegranate and chlorophyll. For men and women. Application: As the days get colder, my skin gets drier. Plus, I’m pregnant, so I really need something that brings “relief to your [...]
Estée Lauder Perfectionist CP+R
Estée Lauder Perfectionist CP+R $95 for 1.7 ounces. Available Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom. “Perfectionist [CP+R] Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum helps Correct, Prevent + Repair the look of serious lines and wrinkles with exceptional speed.” Application: Serums confuse me. I’m never sure when to use them in a beauty regime that includes moisturizer, Retin-A, hydroquinone and whatever else [...]
Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Eye
Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Eye eye treatment balm, $46 for .5 ounces. Kiehl’s stores, Nordstrom. “The company’s first eye cream using the ‘Resurrection Flower’ to provide visible rejuvenation and revitalization for the eye area.” Application: My obsession with eye creams only deepens as I age. I’m a guinea pig for every new product: gels, masques, even [...]
Keranique Follicle-Boosting Serum
Keranique Follicle-Boosting Serum with peptide and stem cell technology. $29.95 for 2 fluid ounces, at keranique.com. “Strengthens and fortifies thinning hair. … Helps hair look thicker, fuller and shinier.” Application: “This and related products are marketed as an anti-aging solution, and while my Asian hair is not exactly thin, I’m their target audience. Spritzed it [...]
Honest Sunscreen
Honest Sunscreen with SPF 20 and eight organic, natural and edible-grade ingredients. $13.95 for 3 ounces, at honest.com. “Ultra-pure and highly effective mineral sunscreen.” Application: “I really wanted to love this product. It’s non-toxic, baby-safe, affordable and co-created by Jessica Alba, one of the cutest actresses around. But it was like clown face makeup — [...]
Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 Face
Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 Face with ecophysalis, saw palmetto extract, passion fruit oil, CO Enzyme Q10, vitamins K, A and E. $48 for 1.7 fluid ounces, at Sephora. “5-in-1 tinted skin enhancer designed to hydrate, prime, enhance, mattify and protect.” Application: “My skin is sallow, with uneven tone. Initially this felt dry and chalky, [...]
Nuance Salma Hayek Tinted Eye Brightener
Nuance Salma Hayek Tinted Eye Brightener with blue agave, lemon extracts, caffeine, Vitamin C. $14.99 for 0.11 ounce, at CVS pharmacy. “Helps minimize the appearance of wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles.” Application: “I’m fair-skinned, in my 30s and occasionally get dark circles after a late night. The formula was lightweight, went on easily and seemed [...]
