Aura Mirabilis from Roger and Gallet

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Henna

Take a look at some of the prettiest skincare products that I’ve ever come across.  This is the Aura Mirabilis line from Roger&Gallet, and it’s based on a 300 year old skincare recipe.

It all started with this double-extract dual-phase serum.  The recipe is partly based on Aqua Mirabilis which was created in France.  It was later renamed Eau de Cologne (because Cologne was where it was from), but basically it was a blend of essences believed to help revive the body.  It was used by kings and queens and later became popular with all who could afford it.

Roger&Gallet took the original recipe and took the 18 botanical extracts and blended them to create Le Soin Aura Mirabilis (above).

Those extracts are:

Sandalwood, lavender and geranium
Neroli
Lemon zest
Lavandin
Bitter orange
Sweet orange
Citronella
Damask rose
Palmarosa
Green mandarin
Lemon grass
Thyme
Exotic vervain
Magnolia
Rosemary
Bergamot

As you can see from the list, the extracts are all recognizable scents, and so it’s no surprise that Aura Mirabilis smells absolutely amazing. It’s a blend of a water-based skincare base and oils that you mix together to create the perfect serum, that helps hydrate, brighten, firm, and tone.  It’s quite moisturizing because of the oil and it works well on my skin to add a layer of cushiony hydration before I go in with a moisturizer.

There’s also a new product called the Beauty Vinegar which is another dual phased product. Think of it as a toner or micellar water, but with fruit vinegar instead of water as the base.  It helps get rid of residue, tone, and refresh your skin.  You apply it after cleansing and then follow up with a serum or moisturizer. Don’t worry – this smells nothing like vinegar or fruit, but instead more like the blend of fragrant oils that makes up some of the formula.

Finally, there’s the Extra Fine Cleansing Mask which is moisturizing so you can wear it on your skin for a while, or use it to wash away the day.  It goes on as a smooth gel and emulsifies to a milky cleanser that’s adept at removing makeup.

You can find some Roger and Gallet products online at Amazon, but sadly this line isn’t available there.

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Marion Cotillard’s Orange/Red Lip at the MET Gala

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Henna

It’s going to hurt, but you need to get rid of your red lipstick and find yourself the perfect orange or orange/red which we saw on Marion Cotillard in 2014.

Marion Cotillard Met Gala 2014

Take notes from Marion Cotillard who wore an orangy-red lip created by Hourglass cosmetics makeup artist Christophe Danchaud.

To create this lip look, Danchaud lined the lips with Hourglass Panoramic Long Wear Lip Liner in Raven. He followed with a mix of Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick in Raven and Muse creating this orange red shade.

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Jessica Alba at the MET Gala

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Henna

…natural beauty at its best.  Because there’s no MET gala this year (it’s usually the first Monday in May which would be today), we’re going through past MET looks and showing you some inspiration.  Jessica Alba is a natural beauty, and the best makeup for her is what makes her look like herself.  This look is from 2014.

We couldn’t help but love Jessica Alba’s makeup at the MET Gala.  Her makeup was done by Lauren Anderson, and Anderson posted this on her Instagram.

Jessica Alba at Met Gala 2014

 

The look is perfect.  A defined cheek, contour on the eyelid, and then a natural lip.  It coordinates well with the gold dress.  Alba could have easily gone the ultra-glam red-lip way, but I like this: her natural beauty shines through.

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Make Up For Ever 110 Foundation Kabuki Brush

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Henna

I know that this brush is meant for putting on foundation, but I use it for putting on my blush.  It’s the perfect size for dipping into my favourite Bobbi Brown blush and then tapping on to my cheeks.  I use it in almost all my videos where I do my makeup.

All the Make Up For Ever brushes are vegan, and they are really soft and fluffy.  I actually prefer them to most other brushes that I’ve tried.

$63 at Sephora or where Make Up For Ever is sold.

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Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil Review

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Henna

Face oils are so popular right now and they’re awesome even if you have oily skin (which I do).  They are great for sealing in moisture and hydration and I really love using them at all times of the year.  You can even put them on under sunscreen which gives your skin a really nice dewy glow.

The key ingredient in Fresh’s Seaberry oil is Sea Buckthorn Oil which is really rich in omegas.  Combined with grape seed oil and sweet almond oil, this makes for a really nice rich oil that helps protect skin from dryness.

You can see that the bottle I have is quite small – it’s 15ml instead of the usual 50ml – and that’s because I got it in a gift set over Christmas.

You can get the full size at Sephora and wherever else Fresh products are sold.

$70 for 50mL.

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Vichy Ideal Body Serum-Milk

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Henna

This is the moisturizer you’re going to want for the summer months. The Vichy Ideal Body Serum-Milk has a lovely light consistency, and is a beautiful lotion that seems to absorb into your body within minutes.
It also has some shimmer in it – so it makes your skin look like it’s glowing. It’s no so much that it’s going to get on your clothes, and honestly, if I put this lotion on at night, the shimmer is gone by the morning, but I still do like the shimmer.

It leaves skin feeling soft and smooth thanks to the fact that it absorbs so quickly, and isn’t at all greasy. It’s the ideal lotion for putting on in the morning before getting dressed because it will make it easier to pull your clothes on.

Pick it up in drugstores. $25.95.

You can also find it online.

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Have You Tried Bare Escentuals Makeup?

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Henna

I get asked a lot about Bare Escentuals.  I think it’s because this San Francisco-based company has been around for a while and there’s a lot of marketing around it.

I myself have not had great experience with it.  You have to blend the foundation to make your own colour and that’s a process that I find kind of tedious.  When I tried to match a colour to my skin, I couldn’t get anything perfect and I thought that was a shame considering that there are tons of lines out there that make foundation my colour and I don’t see myself as hard to match (and regular readers should know – I’ve reviewed and tried tons of foundations and the only way that I can really try them is if I can wear them for atleast a week and for me to do that, I have to find a foundation in my colour).

I do like the Bare Escentuals blotting powder.  It works and it’s pretty sheer.

If you can find a Bare Escentuals foundation in your colour, then great, try it out, but don’t look to me – I can’t endorse it.

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Ralph Lauren Romance Always Yours is a New Classic

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Henna

Love it when a new fragrance actually references an original. Romance Always Yours by Ralph Lauren does exactly that and smells amazing. While the original Romance was light and slightly fruity, 10 years later, Truly Yours is more mature because it starts with fruity notes and adds a musky base which you can smell all the way throughout the fragrance.

This fragrance came out in 2009 and I still like it because it smells nostalgic to me.

You can find many iterations of the Ralph Lauren Romance perfume online.

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Do You Like Chemical or Mineral Sunscreen

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Henna

Had this little poll up on my Insta last week, and the answers were interesting: do people like chemical or mineral sunscreen?  I thought for sure everyone would choose mineral… there seems to be a push from brands to release a mineral sunscreen, but who is really using them.

Some brands I have tried are a little whitish… some need to mixed with foundation or concealer, and some are best worn under makeup instead of on their own. So it’s actually no surprise that people are into whatever sunscreen looks and feels good on their skin, mineral or otherwise.

Care to weigh in?

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Dior Capture Youth Matte Maximizer

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Henna

I’m going to start by saying that the packaging on this serum had Lactic Acid written on it in really big letters, but no mention of what percentage of lactic acid was in the bottle, which is not as transparent as I would like.  Furthermore, Lactic Acid is lower down on the ingredient list and the first 3 ingredients are water, propylene glycol, and glycerin, which means that this serum is going to be hydrating more than anything else.

Anyway.  All that aside, I’ve added it to my skincare routine with the idea that I actually do need a hydrating serum for the morning.

And, you guys.  I don’t hate this one.  I actually love it.  I don’t know if the lactic acid is enough to actually make my skin brighter, but it’s hydrating and it’s making my skin not so oily during the day.  I’m layering it with the Diorskin Nude Air serum foundation, and the results are incredible, especially for the first 8 hours of the day.

$120 at Dior counters.

 

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