Tag: luxury

HOURGLASS Ambient Light Correcting Primer

I think Hourglass has established itself as a luxury brand that is here to stay at this point. And what I love about it (and attribute its success to) is the natural and luminous finishes and luxurious feel. I have tried most of their products, but what I keep coming back to is face color. Right now, I am hooked on the HOURGLASS Ambient Light Correcting Primer.

This primer can be worn under foundation or alone. Its main purpose is to blur and perfect while adding a glow. The light-correcting pigments neutralize and brighten my skin. Since I run a little red, this is perfect for me. The formula is oil-free and weightless. It soaks into my skin without looking greasy. I love the smaller sized tube for travel. And you’ll only need a pea-sized amount. I apply with my fingers. Lately, I have applied MAC Studio Face & Body Foundation on top of this primer for a very natural look. Hourglass products are 100 percent cruelty-free. Available at Sephora.

Le Metier de Beaute CHEM60 Pro-Peel and GLOW10ai Mask Set

Le Metier always brings out a little bit of nostalgia for me. It was one of the first brands I discovered and fell for when I began my beauty blog. While the company has morphed, it is still a staple on my vanity. I have to give credit to Neiman Marcus (which is my favorite luxury beauty spot) for this outstanding luxury mask. I was down at the Dallas Northpark store when this mask first launched and was able to give it a whirl. It was so fabulous that I was very reluctant to even put on makeup for my return trip to Tulsa.

You can imagine my delight when Neiman Marcus sent over my very own Le Metier de Beaute CHEM60 Pro-Peel and GLOW10ai Mask Set to have here at home. This weekend I dove in to see if the at-home use was just as wonderful as the in-store experience. I wasn’t disappointed – my skin was left just as healthy, glowing and even as it did months ago back in Dallas.

Step one is the CHEM60 Pro-Peel. It sounds daunting, but this is one of the most gentle peels I have used. A blend of salicylic and glycolic acids works against dead skin cells. You can leave it on for as short as 60 seconds but I go for a full five minutes. My skin wasn’t red in the slightest and there was no tingling. But my skin was brighter with the dullness removed from my tone.

GLOW10ai Mask infuses skin with nourishing goodness. Antioxidants, hydration and vitamins help renew and refresh. The effect also helps with dullness and hyper-pigmentation. But my favorite part is the satisfying peel-off step when the thin sheet of gel comes off in one fantastic sheet. The GLOW10ai Mask is what really takes my complexion to a new level.

I keep the second mask on for a full 15 minutes, but you could apply Glow in a thinner layer if you are in a rush. Make sure to avoid the hairline and eyebrows in both steps. I especially appreciate the dial nozzle on the peel tube that keeps the mask fresh and separate from the brush applicator. And keeps leakage to a minimum.

Samples generously provided by Neiman Marcus as part of the Beauty Ambassador Program. I consult for Neiman Marcus which is affiliated with the Neiman Marcus Group, but as always, opinions are my own.

Chantecaille Fall – The BEST Mascara

Everything Chantecaille does feels so ultra-luxurious. Their packaging and formulas are always exquisite and spot on. But this season, they really have outdone themselves. I am calling their new Supreme Cils Mascara the “best mascara I have ever tried”. And I don’t use superlatives lightly so you know I really love it. Their new Le Stylo Ultra Slim Liquid Eye Liner is delicate but oh so usable. In the mood to invest for some beautiful holiday eyes? I highly suggest this duo:

Lustful Luxury Friday: Joya Âmes Sœurs Solid Perfume

Welcome to the first of a new series on Belle Belle! Every Friday, I will be featuring a truly luxury item that is lust worthy. Today, I am shopping at my newest favorite beauty mecca, Net-a-Porter, where so many of these cult items can be found. Today’s is a solid perfume that will have you swooning.

A touch mysterious, this vintage-style solid perfume is poured into a porcelain cast and topped with a 24-karat gold lid. Sold yet? Scent Âmes Sœurs (of Soul Mates in French) is made from Natural Jojoba Oil and Carnauba wax fragrance and hand-poured at the Joya Studio in New York City. The notes of Orange Blossom, Incense, Smoke and Musk are decidedly sensual yet masculine.

Seriously limited edition, this fragrance is limited to 15 units. Get yours here.

La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift

I’ve had quite the love affair with La Prairie since I began blogging. The La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Eye Cream is still my all time favorite eye cream. And don’t get me started on the La Prairie Cellular Radiance Cream Blush. Their 3-minute Peel is a staple on my vanity. The brand consistently turns out some of the most luxurious and supremely effective skincare I’ve had the opportunity to try. In April of 2012, La Prairie launched a product that basically distilled everything wonderful about their Caviar Collection into one gorgeous bottle.

Skin Caviar Liquid Lift uses these infamous golden caviar pearls to deliver an instant lift to skin. It has even been called an “instant facelift”. While I recognize I’m not really a candidate for a facelift yet, I have been absolutely giddy about this product. The smoothing effect is genuinely unique and it has made for a fabulous primer under makeup. Over the past couple of weeks, my skin is smoother and tighter, something I’ve been concerned about as I have been losing a significant amount of weight.

A glucose-based polymer (Xanthan Gum Crosspolymer) tones and tenses skin immediately and long-term. The amino acids, vitamins and minerals in the Caviar Extracts offer nourishment and protection to the skin. A new pentapeptide helps protect and renew skin cells. My dry skin soaks up the Vitamin B5 that acts as a humectant, adding moisture to the skin. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant.

The real excitement of this products comes with the “activation”. When you purchase the bottle, the caviar beads appear in the window. Before use, remove the outer cap and press the activator. The three chambers mix three distinct formulas to combine a balanced blend. So cool!

Skin Caviar Liquid Lift is available at Neiman Marcus here.

Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick

So many recent “firsts” over here at Belle Belle Beauty. First Edward Bess, then La Prairie and now (finally) Tom Ford. I love it just as much as my other luxury foundation pick, Clé de Peau Beauté Silky Cream Foundation, but they couldn’t be more different. Clé de Peau gives a silky, glowy finish with medium coverage, whereas Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick is nimble, oil-free and buildable in coverage.

This stick has a unique quality: swiping the stick directly on my skin gives a creamy, blendable formula. The only other stick foundation I’ve used (Bobby Brown) is not near as blendable and almost cakey. As the Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick sets, the finish is more matte, bringing with it fantastic staying quality. I haven’t had a foundation EVER stay on as long as this does.

Shaped like a giant concealer stick, I wasn’t sure now precise I could be. But actually, the stick allows you to build coverage where needed and let a sheerness shine through where you don’t. If you are having a particularly good skin day, just use this as a concealer! And love this is airplane friendly and portable.

Tom Ford’s price point is definitely high ($78), but this stick is HUGE and excellent quality. You won’t be sorry.