Korres Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser

I was using an oil based face cleanser for the past few weeks and I have decided that this type of formulation will one that I will use more in the late fall and throughout the winter, I like face oils but I don't think that I need one at this time of the year.  I finished up that product and was excited to see that Sephora has restocked the Korres Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser after several months and I ordered it right away.  You guys may remember me lamenting that this product has been out of stock in both the stores and the website for at least three months and I have wanted to try it ever since I first saw it on Sephora's website.  I have used it for a few days now and I can firmly attest that this face wash was worth the wait...

I used the original formula of the Milk Proteins Face Cleanser earlier this year and that was a good formula for the fall or spring, I would find it to be too heavy for the summer months and am glad that I can use the foaming formula for the rest of the summer and early fall.  I couldn't use this formula in the cold weather but the combination of the two formulas would get me through the whole year in this face care line.

I am not sure if this product is exclusive to Sephora but I have only ever seen this product there and that is where I ordered it from.  "A gentle cleanser that transforms into a rich foam for effective, soap-free cleansing.  This product cleanses in one step, effectively washing away dirt, impurities, and makeup from the face and eyes. Formulated with milk proteins, it provides skin-enhancing lactose and essential amino acids to form a protective hydration shield on the skin. The combination of 100-percent natural emulsifiers and vegetable oils leaves skin supple and hydrated. This pure and mild formula is ideal for all skin types."

The following are key ingredients of the face cleanser.  "Milk Proteins: Nourish and moisturize the skin; provide essential amino acids.  100% Natural Emulsifiers and Vegetable Oils: Leave skin supple and hydrated while ensuring excellent tolerance across the eyes and skin."

I used too much of this wash my first time around and hated the results, I used the amount for this one that I would have used for the regular cream formula (about a nickel size, maybe slightly larger) and I was left with residue all over my face and couldn't stand the feeling that was on my face.  The next time that I used the product, I used the correct amount and got a much better result.  The dime sized drop foamed up completely and created enough foam to completely cover my entire face.  It rinsed cleanly and left very little product residue.  The only way that I knew there was product residue was that I used a Clinique toner after it and there was very little cleanser residue on the cotton ball.  There was a small amount of foundation/concealer/bronzer/primer residue on the cotton ball and this is normal for me.  I usually tend to have this issue with any face cleanser since I use such high quality primers.

This product doesn't dry my face out like some foaming or gel cleansers have and I attribute this to the Milk Proteins and the vegetable oils that don't strip skin and help to build the strengthen the skin's moisture barrier.  I need more products like this in my life, I love the Korres brand of skincare and will continue to eagerly jump on new products from them as they release to Sephora.  I think I might own the whole Milk Proteins line at this point...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Korres Milk Proteins 3-in-1 Cleansing, Toning, and Eye Makeup Removing Emulsion

I am firmly in my self tanning routine for the summer and I have noticed that my skin seems drier than normal this year.  It might be because it is on the colder side right now and this Memorial Day weekend will feel more like the very beginning of spring than the very end of spring.  Whatever the case may be, I have changed by skincare routine a slight bit so that I can try and combat some of the dryness before it gets to the point that I can't self tan as much as I like because my face begins to burn when I apply the product.  I am happy with the face lotion that I am currently using and I have no plans to change this product (Clinique Dramatically Different Face Lotion), this classic face lotion is a warm weather staple of mine and I have used it in combination with my favorite Bath and Body Works self tanner for two summers now.  The next option for me is try a new face wash or a new serum.  I am running low on my Clinique face wash so trying a different kind of face wash is my first change.

I have used many Korres face products in the past and I wanted to try a face wash from this line, I have used their moisturizers and treatments before but I have never picked up a face wash from them and am eager to try one.  There are several choices from this line and I looked at all of them and then decided on a product from the Milk Proteins line.  This line is best for dry skin that needs a bit of extra care and is exactly what I need at the moment.  I chose to order the Milk Proteins Cleansing, Toning, and Eye Makeup Removing Emulsion from Sephora in the hopes that a cream cleanser would be more gentle on my skin.

"An ultra-gentle cream emulsion that removes makeup and cleanses the skin of impurities.  Rich in nourishing oils, this product instantly cleanses the skin of impurities. The complexion is left soft, clean, and feeling moisturized. A combination of naturally derived emulsifiers and oils ensures excellent tolerance by the skin. Milk proteins, rich in lactose and essential amino acids, offer nourishing, hydrating, and moisturizing properties.  This product is ideal for very dry skin and for those who wish to avoid cleansing with water.", states the Sephora website.

I wash my face only once a day and use a separate eye makeup remover, I have never seen the wisdom is using one product for multiple purposes and do not believe that one cleanser will correctly perform both tasks.  I have been using this product for about three or four days now and I have drawn several conclusions about it...

My first conclusion is that this is only a product for someone with dry or very dry skin, it has a very creamy and slippery feel to the application and would not work for anyone with normal or any type of oily skin.  This product does not foam at all and would not appeal to those who love foaming cleansers.  This product is for a very targeted audience and my skin fits perfectly into this target.  I squeeze about a nickel-sized drop of this product from the bottle and this is the perfect amount to apply for my entire face and the top of my neck.  I use water to rinse this product though I am sure that it could be tissued off for those users who do not like to use water at all when cleansing their faces.  This product washes off very easily and leaves little to no residue on my face. 

I love this face wash for keeping my dry skin feeling soft and nourished all throughout cleansing, my face doesn't feel tight when I get out of the shower and is less dry than after using many other face washes.  I really prefer the feel of a foaming face wash but my skin often tends to prefer cream formulas and it has been extra dry recently.  I am very happy with this product and will be buying it again in the near future.

I discovered the one drawback of this product last night, I decided to use a toner after cleansing and I wasn't expecting all of the face makeup that clung to the cotton ball.  I do use multiple primers on my face and eyes along with either foundation or Beauty Balm and I am used to any face wash not getting all the excess makeup off.  This formula left more than others have in the past (typical for a cream formula) so I do have to use the Korres wipes on my face after working out and will need to use a toner once of twice a week to get a more through cleansing for my face.  I have come to expect that cream formulas are not going to have the same level of cleansing that foam and gel will and I would rather add that extra step once a week and have my skin feel less tight when getting out of the shower.

I really like this face wash and I do consider this to one of my favorites that I have used, I love the whole Korres line and will keep buying more products from it over the next few months. 

photo courtesy of Sephora

Korres Milk Proteins Cleansing and Makeup Removing Wipes

After this semester is over, I have decided that I must start seriously looking to join and gym and check out every organization that is around me.  With that, I am well aware that I will end up needing new clothing, sneakers, and new beauty products to support this lifestyle change.  I have read so many stories in beauty magazines about increased acne, limp hair, and increased need to shower (therefore drying out my skin even more than it usually is).  I know some women that have issues with visiting the gym just because of these issues and I refuse to avoid the gym and come up with a separate beauty product routine that will combat all the bad that occurs at a sweaty gym.  That means that I have a different kind of skincare product shopping to do...

I started thinking about this about two weeks ago when I was having massive writer's block on my final paper for Leading People in Organizations.  I began by listing all the gyms in my area and then went over to the Sephora website to look at some of the skincare sets listed as "Travel".  One of the first items that I came upon was skincare wipes that are made to clean skin and remove makeup.  A product like this is exactly what I would want for after working out to clean all the sweat and excess makeup off my skin and try to avoid some of the pore clogging issues that will result.  Wipes must be a popular item since a bunch of companies that I already have skincare products from have all kinds of wipes, some companies even have multiple kinds so that they are targeted toward many skin types.  I got really excited to see that Korres (already a favorite skincare brand of mine) has multiple kinds of wipes that are targeted toward different skin types.  Which is great because the last thing that I need right now is for a cleansing product to dry out my skin more and then lead to even more oil production...

Korres has a line for made just for dry skin and I am happy to see that the Milk Protein line continues to grow and grow the more that they release new products, I love combining products from this line and the Wild Rose line to both hydrate and calm my skin.  I ordered the Milk Proteins Cleansing and Makeup Removing Wipes as soon as I saw them and I have used them the past two nights to try them out (before I decide that they earn a spot in my future gym bag!).

"A travel-friendly package of 25 wipes that gently yet effectively remove makeup, dirt, and oil.  These wipes, enriched with softening milk proteins, effortlessly eliminate eye makeup (waterproof included) and cleanse the skin to create soft, supple, refreshed results. Milk proteins, rich in essential amino acids, nourish and moisturize the skin, while aloe soothes the skin from redness and irritations. This convenient solution is perfect for and on-the-go cleansing."

The key word here is "on the go", these are not a substitute for your traditional liquid cleanser and they will not replicate all the benefits of doing the traditional skincare regime every single day.  I read several reviews on Makeup Alley by people who used them every single day and I can see why they didn't love them, this isn't the way to use them and of course they didn't get the best benefits to their skin.  I would only use these wipes once or twice a week when I go to the gym right from work or class and then would do my regular skincare regime each day. 

These function very well to get my face makeup off and take a good amount of my eye makeup off.  These are not made to get a real deep clean and are not a replacement for a traditional cleanser.  This product got my makeup residue and sweat off after I went jogging the other day and they quickly got face makeup, a bit of eye makeup, and sweat off my face without leaving it feeling tight and dry.  This is exactly what I wanted for this type of product and I highly recommend them for a gym bag or even for a late night.  I would not recommend them for everyday use and anyone who uses them like this will not like the product. 

The Milk Proteins wipes are for normal to dry skin but this company also offers the Pomegranate wipes for normal to oily skin.  I have used one Pomegranate product before and I really liked that face cream and I think that I can safely recommend those to people with a different skin type than mine. 

I will be coming out with more posts over the next few months of products that I am using to fill my gym bag and if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Skincare Ingredients Week Day Seven - Korres Wild Rose Face and Eye Serum

Today we one the last day of my Skincare Ingredients Theme Week, yesterday we looked at what might be one of my new favorite ingredients and today I have saved my favorite ingredient ever for the last day of the week.  I have loved Rose in all forms; skincare, perfume, and body products.  I have used rose in every single form that it is available in and I am also burning a rose candle made for me by a friend while I type this, I love rose fragrances and I also enjoy reaping the beneficial ingredients to the skin.  Rose is one of the oldest ingredients and one of the best soothing and hydrating ingredients that can be used in skincare, I need as much as soothing and hydrating as possible so I am all about roses.

Korres has one of the most popular wild rose skincare product lines and the company also provides lots of information about this ingredient on the Sephora website so I am just going to pull all my information from here rather than searching on botany and chemistry website as I was doing for entries earlier this week.  "Whether you covet long-lasting hydration, skin-perfecting makeup, or an intensive treatment product, Korres' Wild Rose Collection offers a complete regimen designed to brighten, revitalize, and protect your skin. As with all Korres' natural skincare and color products, the Wild Rose collection is formulated to achieve maximum, long-lasting results using highly effective, natural extracts. What you won't find: harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients. What you will find: skin-friendly products loaded with wild rose oil. Rich in vitamin C, wild rose oil offers potent antioxidant protection and also works to fight fine lines and hyperpigmentation. It can even assist in cell regeneration and in improving skin texture. End result? Gorgeous skin with a natural glow."

To reap all the benefits of wild rose, I decided to purchase the serum that is packed full of this ingredient.  I have used the moisturizer in the past and loved it so I am more than happy to order more items from Korres.  "Rich in wild rose oil, Wild Rose skincare formulas form a protective barrier on the epidermis that improves the texture of the skin and, more importantly, allow cells to regenerate. That’s great news for those with fine lines and wrinkles; dark under-eye circles; a dull, uneven skintone; and hyperpigmentation.  An ultra-concentrated vitamin C face and eye serum that is clinically proven to brighten skin, smooth the look of fine lines, and improve skin texture.  Brighten skin, smooth fine lines, and even the skin texture with this potent natural serum. Ultra-concentrated vitamin C found in wild rose helps to repair skin discolorations while boosting skin’s brightness and radiance. Baobab tree extract, in combination with a wheat proteins agent, provides an instant firming and line-smoothing effect and has been clinically proven to considerably reduce the number, depth, and length of wrinkles. "

A few lab results from the testing phase...

Clinically proven results after 60 days:
- 100% of women showed improved skin brightness and radiance
- 100% of women showed improved skin smoothness

This serum is best when used twice a day, I started out with one usage a day and after two weeks, I saw absolutely no results.  I decided to change up my routine and begin using it both morning and night.  After two weeks using it in this method, I got much better results so I guess sometimes it pays to actually read the directions.  The serum has a thicker texture than most, I would say that this serum is best for normal to dry and sensitive skin types.  It absorbs in quickly and my skin seemed to simply love the texture of this serum. 

This serum mostly hydrated and brighten my complexion, it has Vitamin C in it to enhance the wild rose extract but I didn't reap any of the anti-aging benefits since I have no visible signs of aging.  My overall complexion looks much better than it did before and I would purchase another tube of this without hesitation, I know that I will buy another bottle of this before winter comes around next week since this is the time of the year when my skin gets really ugly.  I will also be ordering more from the Wild Rose collection over the next few months.

Well Skincare Ingredients Theme Week has ended and I hope that I have given you some new products to try and ingredients to look for.  Feel free to add any comments about your favorite products with these ingredients in and I will look for them.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Skincare Ingredients Week Day Two - Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Primer

Yesterday we started the Skincare Ingredients Week off with anti-oxidant Vitamin C and today we are going to look at another top quality anti-oxidant ingredient.  I am all about anti-oxidants since I am trying to protect my skin from the elements and try to prevent signs of aging before I have to spend time at the dermatologist to correct them.  The second anti-oxidant ingredient that we are looking at this week is the Pomegranate fruit, a fruit widely used in both beauty products and all kinds of foods and beverages.  Pomegranates are one of the hottest ingredients in skincare and the extract is popping up in every single type of skincare product on the market.  I have explored pomegranate in many skincare entries before, this ingredient effectively protects the skin but often does not irritate the skin in the way that Vitamin C can.

Pomegranate fruits have their roots in the Middle East and had been part of their culture for many years before the trend began in the United States and Europe.  Pomegranate has been proven to mostly protect the skin but has also been shown to help reduce some of the visible signs of aging.  The pomegranate fruit extract is mostly effective in helping to restore elastin and making the skin more resilient.  Elastin keeps the wrinkles from forming and the skin from sagging, protecting the elastin fibers will help to slow down the signs of visible aging.  This fruit is most effective at protecting the skin from free radicals, using anti-oxidants will form a protective layer over the skin and bind to the free radicals in the air.

I have used pomegranate-based skincare products many times before so when I thought about this ingredient and what it is used in, I decided that I wanted to try it in a completely different form from what I have used in years previously.  Korres is a company that I have used for many years previously and last spring, they introduced a primer that is spiked with the anti-oxidant ingredient.  I ordered this primer last year and this Sephora order contained both this primer and then so many other skincare products that it is was inspired me to write an entire Theme Week on Skincare Ingredients.  I used this primer all through the spring and summer and then well into before I switched over to a more hydrating formula, I will be picking it up again within the next month and squeezing every last drop out of the tube before I order another.  I once read in an issue of Allure that certain sunscreen ingredients can age the skin so it was important to provide your skin with some type of barrier between the outer layers of the epidermis and the product itself.  A primer will be the perfect product to form that barrier...

"A water-based mattifying, pore minimizing, and skin-perfecting primer.  If your symptoms are visible pores, unwanted shine, and an overall makeup meltdown, then Korres has the remedy for you. This clinically proven, universally nude Pomegranate Mattifying Primer blends to an invisible matte finish while minimizing the appearance of pores, balancing skintone and texture, and preparing skin for smooth makeup application and long-lasting wear. The 94% natural, non-comedogenic formula is water-based so it allows skin to breathe and never clogs pores. The formula is loaded with antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract to help tighten pores, willow bark extract to balance skin, witch hazel water to mattify and tighten while removing excess oil and dirt, and rice starch to absorb excess surface oil and soften skin."

This formula is perfect for the spring and summer, it absorbs excess oil and really helped my makeup to stay in place during the higher temperature days.  I am not the person that really needs a lot of mattifying and pore reduction but I love the improved tone and texture of skin when using this product.  This primer has a much thinner texture than most of the ones that I have used, the texture is that of a very thin lotion and a small amount very quickly absorbs into the skin.  Any skin type will benefit from the use of this primer and it is a great product to have in my spring and summer makeup arsenal.

This product makes me much more interested in what types of skincare benefits can be found in makeup products.  I will keep looking for beneficial ingredients in my primers and foundation along with looking for them in my skincare products.  I hope that this type of primer formula will be the norm very soon and that I will have even more choices like this.

photo courtesy of Sephora

My Favorite Products at this Time!

The spring is now here and I am breaking out of all my favorite new seasonal products!  Currently my city is in a bit of a cool weather wave but the warm, sunny spring will be back by next week and I am not giving up any of my current loves just becuase I have to wear my trench coat every single day now.  Come to think of it, my trench coat is also one of my favorite pieces of this spring!

All I want is pinks and pretty lip glosses!

My favorites right now!

Bath and Body Works Signature Vanillas Lemon Vanilla Body Lotion - "Our Siganture Vanillas Body Lotion takes pampering to the next level.  Fortified with powerful ingredients like super conditioning Shea Butter, fast absorbing Jojoba Oil, and protective Vitamin E that hydrates skin with moisture that lasts all day.  Our non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and completely to leave skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth, and nourished, making it the perfect daily moisturizer.  Smooth over body to lightly fragrance and quench parched skin.  A bright blend of refreshing lemon and cool vanilla."  I love that Bath and Body Works brought their Vanillas collection back this spring, the Lemon Vanilla is the perfect light gourmand fragrance for the spring.  This one reminds me of lemon merinque pie and I had to go out and pick up a few more bottles of this lotion and matching shower gel!

China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Sweet Hook - "Unleash your inner color with China Glaze...your long wearing professional nail lacquer choice!  Long wearing formula with hardeners features great coverage and DBP free.  China Glaze Nail Lacquer makes nails look spectacular and dries in seconds.  China Glaze offers the latest technology in formulas and color selection."  Sweet Hook is a pretty pale lilac cream that is my polish this spring.  The formula is a bit on the thick side so the first few times that I used this, I really screwed it up and had to completely redo my manicure.  This polish hue takes some extra time to get right but look great once I have it on.  i have gotten so many compliments on this color and it might be one of the favorites for the spring.

Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Nymph - "Illuminate, radiate, make your face come alive with the colour and drama of Illamasqua Powder Blusher.  Colour-intense and highly pigmented, use it to shade, brighten, enhance, and define the shape of your face.  Be bold, be daring, be the centre of attention."  Nymph a "warm candy pink" with a matte finish.  Nymph is one of the lesser pigmented Illamasqua Blushes but it still packs a punch when applied to the cheeks.  My skin is still pale and I love how well this shade flatters my complexion while still be appropriate for all situations.  I love Illamasqua's Blushes and this is one of the best shades that they offer.

Korres Pomegranate Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturizer - "A lightweight moisturizer that provides a matte finish and pore-minimizing properties while leaving skin soft, hydrated, and balanced.  This pore-minimizing and mattifying moisturizer delivers immediate and lasting hydration while simultaneously balancing oil to combination complexions.  The unique lightweight cream-gel texture is formulated with a blend of 15% pomegranate water, pomegranate extract, alpine willow herb, and contains tannins and polyphenols.  These ingredients help reduce the appearance of pores and rejuvenate the look of skin while providing a matte finish.  Hyaluronic and salicylic acids combine to offer an immediate moisture boost while conditioning skin for an overall smooth appearance."  This hybrid product is a great product for the warmer weather, providing a bit of moisture to my dry areas while not making my T-Zone any worse.  It provides a bit of mattyifing benefits, just enough for those of us with combination skin.  I will be getting good results from this day cream all throughout the trest of the spring.

China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Sea Spray- "Unleash your inner color with China Glaze...your long wearing professional nail lacquer choice!  Long wearing formula with hardeners features great coverage and DBP free.  China Glze Nail Lacquer makes nails look spectacular and dries in seconds.  Chins Glaze offers the latest technology in formulas and color selection."  This shade is actually from the spring of 2011 collection, Anchors Away.  I first tried White Cap from this collection and now I have found another hit from it, Sea Spray is a very pale blue with a cool gray cast to it.  This shade looks like what rain would be if it was assigned a color.  This shade is one of the best hues for spring!

Spring is finally in full swing and I am loving it!

photo courtesy of Illamasqua

Korres Pomegrante Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturizer

Last week, I finished up my huge bottle of Clinique Dramatically Different Face Lotion, a product that I have been using on and off for almost an entire year.  I debated just purchasing another bottle of it since I really liked its performance and the texture of the lotion but I deicded that I wanted to try something totally different this time around.  When I made this decision, Sephora had recently released several new products from the homeopathic Greek skincare line, Korres.  Korres is one of the few skincare lines that I have rarely found a product that disappointed me in how it performed.  I have only used a few pieces from the color line of products however I have tried a variety of products from the skincare line.  The newest product that I decided to order from the Sephora website is the Pomegranate Balancing Gel-Cream Moisturizer, a lighter hydrator that will work well in the warmer weather months. 

This is a light to medium weight hydrator that also provides mattiyfing benefits to the skin.  "A lightweight moisturizer that provides a matte finish and pore-minimizing properties while leaving skin soft, hydrated, and balanced.  This pore-minimizing and mattifying moisturizer delivers immediate and lasting hydration while simultaneously balancing oily to combination complexions.  The unique lightweight cream-gel texture is formulated with a blend of 15% pomegranate water, pomegranate extract, alpine willow herb, and contains tannins and polyphenols.  These ingredients help reduce the appearance of pores and rejuvenate the look of skin while providing a matte finish.  Hyaluronic and salicylic acids combine to offer an immediate moisture boost while conditioning skin for an overall smooth appearance."

The Sephora website provides some of the results that were observed during the clinical trails of this product.
- 88% of subjects saw an improvement in skin texture
- 84% of subjects saw a reduction in surface oil and said skin appeared more matte
- 78% of subjects saw a visible reduction in the appeance of pores
- 75% of subjects saw a noticeable reduction in the appearance of redness

So far, I have been using this product for about a week (only during the day, I have am using the last bit of my Benefit face cream at night), this is too light for me to use at night.  My skin is becoming less dry with the advent of spring, however it still needs that dose of moisture at night and this product does not fully provide that intense moisture dose.  This product works well at balancing my dry areas and helping to control the oil on my T-zone, providing limited mattifying benefits.  The mattifying benefits in this product work well for slightly oily and combination skin but would not control the excess oil of very oily skin.  I would not recommend this product for someone who has very oily skin, it will not mattify well enough to suit them.

This product contains pomegranate to help brighten and clear up my complexion, the redness in my cheek area is reduced but not completely eliminated.  This face cream provides a great canvas for primer and foundation, I have had to use the same amount of face primer but a bit less foundation since I have been using this product.  Of course with the pomegranate in this product, it is considered an anti-oxidant and will help to protect against future aging.

This product does have a definite scent, it is herbal and I find it quite pleasing but it will take away from the product for those who hate strong scents in their skincare.  I can smell the pomegranate extract in this cream but also a herbal note of white tea.  I like the scent of this product but it might be irritating to some, a lighter mix of the scent in this product would be my only suggestion for improvement.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder

Earlier in the spring, I finished up my beloved Make Up For Ever HD Loose Powder and I was undecided if I wanted to try something new and see what else what out on the market or repurchase the HD powder yet again.  I was able to table my decision for a decent amoutn of time since during the summer I just use powder bronzer instead of any type of powder.  However as the summer drew to an end, I had to make a decision on what to do.  I had been looking through loose powders on the Sephora website and I was leaning toward just repurchasing the Make Up For Ever product when I saw this brand new powder from the Korres Wild Rose line.  I have used and loved the face cream from this collection so I decided to take a risk and buy something other than the Make Up For Ever loose powder.

"A weightless mineral-based soft-focus finishing powder in a universally flattering shade for all skintones.  With Wild Rose Extract and reflective  mineral pigments in rose gold and nude rose, this ultra-sheer silky powder helps to absorb excess oil, leaving skin with a subtle, natural, healthy glow.  The soft focus mineral blend reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines and brightens skintone.  Silica and zinc oxide promote healthy, beautiful skin while simultaneously clearing the skin of toxins.  Titanium dioxide and iron oxide brighten the complexion for a smoother, more even skintone.  Vitamin C is a potent, natural source of Vitamin C that helps brighten skin and soften the appearance of fine line and imperfections.", states the Sephora website in a description of this product.

This is not a high definition powder and it was not designed for to accomplish that purpose, it is more of the traditional loose powder formulation.  However it is highly effective as a loose powder to set makeup and enhance my complexion.  I use this powder as one of the last steps of my makeup routine to help set concealer and make my makeup last through the day.  It isn't a product that I would put in my makeup bag to use for touch-ups during the day; it is a bit messy in application, must be used with a large, fluffy brush, and isn't as effective as a pressed formula to help control shine.  This is not a mattifying powder and therefore I would not recommend it to anyone with major shine issues, your skin will get oily very quickly and a oil control formula would be much more effective for you. 

I found that this powder is best for those of use with normal to slightly dry skin and who have redness or dullness issues with their complexion.  This powder comes in one shade that is recommended for all skintones and has a bit of both subtle rose and gold tones in it.  This powder helps to reduce the redness in my cheeks and even out my skintone.  It won't get rid of redness by itself, I still have to use it with foundation and primer to really reduce the redness.  This product is not made to be a miracle-worker, it is a good powder to set makeup and help your complexion look brighter.  The whole Wild Rose line is a good choice for someone with sensitive or reddened skin and I haven't had any issue with any of the products that I have tried from it so far, so I really recommend this entire line for someone who has had issues with sensitivity in the past.

This product is a great loose powder but doesn't replace the HD powder because it's not formulated to.  I am happy that I decided to buy this product going into the fall and winter, it hasn't settled into any dry areas of my skin yet and has helped to brighten my overall complexion when I wearing it.  If you must carry a powder with you all day, then this isn't a product that I would recommend for the reasons that I stated above.  This powder is best used to set makeup and a pressed powder is much better to carry in your bag.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion Show - Korres for Ann Yee

Now it is for the second of my two favorite makeup looks from the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion Show.  The first look was better for a professional or more casual weekend day look however the second look is pure fun and the one that is my personal favorite of the group!  This look is named "Lush, Dewy, Naked Skin with Strong Pops of Color" and this look is best for the spring and summer seasons.  If you would want to take this into the fall season, it would require a bit of a less bright lip shade.  I laugh to think that I am already starting to think about a look for next summer but summer is my favorite season and I could live in an area where it is warm all year round.

Lush, Dewy, Naked Skin with Strong Pops of Color...

- Prepare skin with Korres Wild Rose Brightening Serum - for extreme dewiness, mix in Korres Wild Rose Mineral Illuminating Powder and stipple into skin with fingertips.
- Skip foundation; use Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiaging and Antiwrinkle Concealer to cover discoloration and blemishes as needed.
- Prime eyes with Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiaging Eye Primer.
- Apply Korres Eyeliner Pencil in Brown to provide a strong, defined brow.
- Apply Korres Eyeliner Pencil in Black on water line (lower and upper area) and smudge.
- Apply emerald green eyeliner to inner corner of eye and drag to outer corner - keeping as close to lower lid as possible and then smudge.
- Finish with Korres Provitamin B5 & Rice Bran Mascara in Black on upper lashes only.
- Prime lips to provide opaque canvas for color, then apply Korres Mango Butter Lipstick #45 (Coral) and top with Korres Lip Butter in Mango - blot with tissue to remove sheen and create a matte look.

Personally, the shades that are used in this look are too warm for my skintone but I would do the same type of look with golds or champagnes on the eyes and then a berry or deep pink on the lips.  Changing up some of the shades would make this look work any time of the year otherwise I would save this look for the summer months only.  I love these brights, I have been really obsessed with pinks and berrys lately and reworking this look fits perfectly into the looks that I have been doing lately.

photo courtesy of Korres 

Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion Show - Korres for Jennifer Chun

All last week and last weekend, Fashion Night Out's activities were the toast of New York City and all kinds of shows and events took place in celebration of this time period.  One of the major shows was the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion Show and the Korres makeup artist team created all the looks that were used in that show.  In fact, Korres was the official makeup and skincare sponsor of the whole show.  I have been providing with several of the looks from the Korres PR team and I wanted to share two of my favorites from the show with you all.  All the credit for the looks belongs to two people; Korres Director of Education, Deb Svarc, and Celebrity Makeup Artist, Jim Crawford.   

The first look that I loved from this show belonged to the model for Jennifer Chun and is called the "Bold but Neutral" look, a look that is neutral enough for the daytime but still contains enough pigment to create a look with pop.  This look could be used for any type of daytime activity, from workdays to casual breakfasts on the weekend.  This is a very easy and universal look, so most of you will be able to draw some type of inspiration from it.

Bold but Neutral...

- Prepare skin with Korres Yoghurt Instant Soothing Gel and Quercetin & Oak Antiaging Primer.
- Prime eyes with Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiaging Eye Primer.
- Apple Korres Wild Rose Liquid Foundation to the face only where needed (spot check).
- Highlight cheekbones, bridge of the nose and forehead with Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiaging and Antiwrinkle Concealer.
- For cheeks, use fingers to stipple Korres Lip Butter in Quince along the hollow of the cheekbone and drag to the center of the cheek.
- Apply Korres Eyeliner Pencil in Brown to the waterline (upper inner eye) and finish with Korres Provitamin B5 & Rice Bran Mascara in Black.
- Apply Korres Mango Butter Lipstick #38 (Cinnamon) and top with Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Raspberry.

This is a great look for any time of the year, you would just have to slightly change up the lip colors.  I don't know that I would recommend using the Lip Butter on your cheeks if you have oily skin, it might be too heavy in texture (any powder blush that has this same type of tone would work instead).

This is a great, easy look the can be pulled off at work or at play on the weekends.  It could be played up with extra eye makeup or a deeper lip tone if you want to take it into the evening.  This is the first of the two looks that I really liked from this show, the second one is coming up next!

photo courtesy of Korres

Korres Fashion Night In Specials

I love Korres and now I am giving all you guys the chance to try and love them too.  I was informed by their PR company that the Korres website (korressusa.com) will be having a secret promotion tonight to celebrate Fashion Night In.  From 6 to 11 tonight (I assume Eastern Standard Time), this company is sharing their beauty secret and remedies dating back to the days of the Greek Goddess.  In addition to recommendations on products and ways to best use them, this company is also offering 20% off select items (use the code FNI), free Shipping and Handling on all color cosmetics, plus a free gift with any purchase of more than $50.  So many reasons to visit the website tonight and pick up a few items.

My recommendations from Korres include the Body Washes and the Lip Butters.  The Wild Rose line contains some great face products and the Milk Protein cleanser is great too.  Tonight I am looking forward to checking out the color cosmetics line and trying some new makeup out!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Korres Lip Butters

I'm in a bit of a beauty rut right now, I have all of my winter products and shades and really won't buy much of anything until the spring collections begin to hit. Also, with the addition of Christmas shopping, I haven't much spare cash to be spending on beauty products for the next week or two. But I need a little something. Enter Korres. I have trusted this brand for ages since I first tried their skincare a few years ago. I am now venturing into their color line with my first look at the Lip Butters.

I have seen these butters on the Sephora site for ages and have noticed them used in many photos in beauty magazines. So far, I have bought one and want to try many more. Sephora classifies this product as, "A buttery balm that melts onto the lips and cheeks for a pretty touch of color". They provide a more detailed product description with the following, "Korres Lip Butter gives lips a lovely, shiny finish and offers a natural flush when applied to the apples of the cheeks. Its shea butter infusion conditions and heals lips and provides a softening touch to the skin". Korres products are on the natural side so anyone can feel good about using this product on their lips.

The colors that are available...

- Guava - clear

- Jasmine - sheer natural pink

- Mango - sheer peach

- Quince - sheer rose

- Plum - sheer lavender berry

- Pomegranate - sheer coral

- Wild Rose - sheer deep red

I have the Guava and I treat it more as a clear lip balm than an actual lip gloss shade. It is a very soft lip balm, very easy to apply and sinks right into my lips. It really helps to hydrate and soften but I don't feel that it has much staying power against the elements. The Guava shade gives very little to no color and a medium amount of shine. Looking at the shades that are also offered, I could see myself liking the Quince and the Wild Rose a lot. I am willing to bet that I will like the Jasmine shade but I wondering how different it will be from the Guava. Since the description states that it is a "sheer natural pink", I am doubting that it will have much pigmentation. i will have to find out the next time that I get Sephora.

The only dislike I have about this product is that I don't like when lip balm comes in a tub, especially any shades that have pigment to them. I feel that I have to wash my hands after I dip my fingers into any pigmented balm and I can't always do that. I will have to see how much this bothers me when I try out a more pigmented shade.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Korres Japanese Rose Body Products

I don't know about anyone else but as much as I love the holidays, there are days that I need to forget it all for a bit. At the moment, I need to ignore the carols and get aways from the cookie scented body products and shimmery red lipstick. I haven't really looked at floral body products for ages and now I need a change from the norm of the cold weather fragrances. Today I am interested in the Japanese Rose line of products from the Greek beauty line Korres. This company has amazing body products so I am anticipating a great product line in this fragrance. This fragrance is currently available in two products, a shower gel and a body butter.

Korres has top of the line shower gels and now they have improved the bottle by putting it in a pump bottle, making it even easier to the perfect amount of product out. The Sephora website describes the product as following, "An age-fighting, moisturizing body wash infused with the sweet, velvet essence of rose buds. This formula delivers collagen-stimulating, elastin-strengthening Active Aloe that reduces the visible signs of aging. Wheat Proteins form a protective shield to help maintain skin's ideal moisture level. Potent Vitamins C and E, and Zinc enhance the natural immune system of the skin. Convenient pump packaging helps make your shower hassle free". These shower gels produce a rich, luxurious lather and the scent lingers on your skin for dent amount of time after you get out of the shower.

Many of the moisturizers from this company were originally formulated to hep cure specific skin ills. Korres is a homeopathic Greek company for they release products that not only smell wonderful but also help to positively impact your skin's health. "A rich moisturizer infused with the sweet, velvet essence of rose buds. Treat your skin-softening hydration and bask in the exclusive Japanese Rose scent. A proprietary blend of sunflower, almond, and avocado oils restores skin's elasticity and smoothness. Quince extracts acts a soothing agent to heal and nourish stressed skin". This body butter appears to be used to help prevent the signs of aging onthe body. I am also willing to bet that this product will be fantastic in the summertime if my skin gets too much sun. Likewise, it will help to soothe my skin in the winter when it gets so dry that it get chapped and irritated.

I am imaging myself on a sunny beach in Greece... But now I need to come back to reality and get back to Christmas shopping.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizer SPF 6

Now I can even use roses on my face... And they are good for me too! The Greek line Korres has an entire face care line devoted to my favorite flower. "Rich in wild rose oil, Wild Rose skincare formulas form a protective barrier on the epidermis that improves the texture of the skin and, more importantly, allow cells to regenerate. That's great news for those with fine lines and wrinkles; dark under-eye circles; a dull, uneven skintone; and hyperpigmentation", states the Sephora website.

I am currently using my first prodct from this line, the face cream. I bought this cream at Sephora several weeks ago after I was intrigued by being able to use rose oil on my face. "An extraordinary, 24-hour intensive moisturizer for normal and dry skin, Wild Rose has a rich, yet light texture and a unique blossom scent, plus whitening wild rose oil and an SPF of 6 to help prevent brown spots caused by sun damage".

After using this product for about two weeks, I have found that it has a bunch of great benefits and one major drawback. First the benefits. It hydrates my skin very well without feeling oily or clogging my pores. The Wild Rose Oil is also calming to my facial redness and the natural formula doesn't irritate my skin. The fragrance is very light but noticeable and I find it relaxing to use at night. The cream absorbs well and doesn't leave a white cast on my face. Summary, this is a great face cream for me and anyone who has skin close to my skin type.

The one big drawback about this product? What is up with an SPF of 6?! I need to see at least a 30 or higher in my skincare and I personally prefer to use a separate sunscreen instead of one that comes mixed into my face cream. If this product had either a high SPF or no SPF at all, it would be my ideal face cream. In addition to the low SPF, I can't really layer another SPF with it because the lower of the numbers will dilute the higher formula.

I am really upset about the SPF because I have really been liking this face cream over the past two weeks. If that issue was corrected, this could become a favorite product of mine. I do recommend it to those who have a skin type like mine but the SPF issue needs to be worked around.

photo courtesy of Sephora

A Beauty Blogger Goes to the Movies...

The other night I went with my boyfriend to see the new Tom Cruise movie, Knight and Day (his choice). Good special effects, story was ok, but I kpet noticing throughout the movie how great Cameron Diaz pulls off her "natural" look. And in one scene, we see her reapply her Korres Lip Butter in Guava. Lovely natural lip look that can stand up to chase scenes...

This is what I notice at the movies!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Korres Basil Lemon Shower Gel

I currently own about 200 gallons of shower gel but of course that never stops me from trying new brands and scents. Korres has long been a favorite brand of mine for body products, their Mint Tea shower gel is among one of my favorite products that I have ever used. So I feel completely confident in picking up any product from this line.

This line originated in Greece and here is a quick description of them from the Sephora website, "With roots in the oldest homeopathic pharmacy in Athens, Greece, the history of Korres is as rich as the formulas of the natural products they create. From yogurt to wild rose, watermelon to guava, their roster of ingredients reads more like a grocery list - and also delievers maximum skincare benefits. Using only top quality active plant extracts that enchant the senses and effectively treat the skin, it's no surprise that Korres also chooses to leave out synthetic ingredients like mineral oil and propylene glycol from all their formulas. The same skin-loving active natural ingredients are used in Korres' latest award-winning color collection of wearable, nature inspired shades made from organically grown, botanical ingredients. From powerful (and pamper-full!) skincare and body products to expert makeup with benefits, Korres is a brand that brings beauty back to nature - and brings out the Greek goddess in all of us."

The latest product that I am using from this line is the Basil Lemon shower gel. It is a fantastic mix of the two elements and is super-refreshing. This would be perfect for the summertime. Sephora states that 'Each of these divinely scented, creamy, foaming shower gels contains wheat proteins, aloe, vitamins, and antioxidant enzymes for long lasting hydration and protection." They are also formulated without parabens and strong chemicals so this is a great choice from someone with sensitive skin or who is interested in living a greenr lifestyle. This product also has a matching body milk that I will be seeking out next time that I head into Sephora.

photo courtesy of Sephora