Tag: face serums

beauty, Girl Who Would be King

Beauty: La Mer “The Concentrate”

Designer products for your face

It’s very seldom that I spend a ton of money on a single skincare/makeup product.lamer5 It’s not that I haven’t done it before but I’m simplifying so many areas of my life right now and skincare is amongst them. Add to that the fact that I make my own natural products.

In the exceedingly competitive beauty market it all comes down to what works for you and what you can afford to spend.  If money is not an issue and you believe an expensive product will work better then by all means go for it.  Sometimes the simpler the better but I won’t knock anything before trying it.  And contrary to the naysayers, some of the more pricey products are superior and seem to work more effectively.lamer3

I’ve  received various products to test out and blog about and even though I’m under no obligation to do so, I like to share my favourites. Which brings me to the most recent one from La Mer. It’s called The Concentrate or; the Miracle Worker (after all it has a trademarked miracle broth secret ingredient). I’ve  been using it for only two weeks and it seems to have smoothed out a rough patch on an area of my face created by an allergy to something. I love the soothing texture and how evenly it spreads and helps hydrate.

Here’s the thing.  In the short time span I’ve been using it, it appears to be a first-rate product but I would look around before I shell out several hundred dollars for a tiny bottle. Can I pay $320 for 1 oz of this so-called miracle product?  The answer is yes. Do I want to? The answer is no.  Will I?  It’s possible only if it works. The high prices on many skincare and makeup products are beginning to put me off.  I’m questioning where to draw the line on spending. Do you feel the same way?

Here is what the company has to say:

THE CONCENTRATE

A saviour of skin, the Concentrate complements skin’s natural healing process with the restorative power of the sea. Designed to soothe visible irritation and redness caused by cosmetic procedures such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser treatments, it is infused with a dose of highly concentrated Miracle Broth™, the heart of La Mer’s profound powers of transformation. Irritation appears soothed and dry, fragile skin made strong for a radiant renewal.

Thoroughly massage onto affected area at least twice per day. For optimal results, follow with your *Crème de la Mer moisturizer.  *another several hundred dollars.

Your thoughts on the cost of beauty and where do we draw the line?

http://www.cremedelamer.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FUN

Beauty biz – does Boots #7 live up to all the hype? 

Remember when the original Protect and Perfect was hailed as the next anti aging breakthrough in Great Britain? When it hit the shelves in the United States it sold out in days. No7

In a recent Boots No7 review, BBC reported a clinical study that showed Boots No. 7′s Protect & Perfect to be as almost as effective as prescription products. Wow, big claim!  Is it true?

Gwyneth Paltrow says she is a user of Boots No7 skin cream which adds further credibility to the line. (After all, she should know).

In 2011, Multiple Boots No7 Products Receive Good Housekeeping’s First Annual Anti-Aging Awards.

Boots No7 has been featured and reviewed by a bunch of influential magazines.  NBC claimed the serum was scientifically proven to repair collagen.  The primary ingredient that is known to repair collagen is oligopeptide. But is this ingredient in a high enough dosage to repair collagen? Our first reaction is that Boots No7 represents good value for money. When you compare Boots No7 to premium products, the formula is actually quite effective. The concentration of oligopeptide is reasonable for the cost of the product and we feel it represents good value for money. The Dermatology Review.

No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum has been tested like no other cosmetic anti aging product in an independent 12 month trial. The findings clearly show that it has genuine, long term anti aging benefits. Contains Pro Retinol (I will blog about the importance of Retinol in my next post), concentrated levels of Boots unique antioxidant complex to protect from environmental damage and a skin-firming peptide complex to boost and maintain skin’s elasticity.

The serum does include Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide, two very effective anti-aging ingredients. Unfortunately, the peptides are the two LAST ingredients in a lengthy list of 31 ingredients. This means there are only enough peptides to allow Boots to list them which makes you wonder about the overall effectiveness.  All in all, it feels silky on the skin and seems to work as well as many pricier serums. Only time will tell. Worth a try in my opinion.

Boots No7 is available at Target, QVC, Ulta, Walgreens, and Beauty.com. In Canada you can find them at Shoppers Drug Mart & London Drugs – priced between $20 and $40. It can also be purchased online through Boots USA.

 I haven’t tried any of their other products – have you?  Any comments?