A Multi Active Lifestyle

A few months ago I posted that I receive the whole line of the recently reformulated Clarins Multi Active line.  Since I had used the line years ago (like over 10) and was now the target age for the product, I was very excited to try it again with the update.  So here's the low down...

True to Clarins form, the formulas are full of unique botanical ingredients. Organic Teasel minimizes fine lines caused by a stressful lifestyle, Myrothamnus fights the effects of daytime stress minimizing fine lines and boosting radiance and Organic California Poppy helps absorb the harmful effects of late nights and interrupted sleep.  They make the Day version in 4 formulas, Normal to Combination, All Skin Types, Dry Skin, and an All Skin Type + SPF 20 and the Night version in 2 formulas, Normal to Combination and Normal to Dry.  I started with the day for All Skin Types and night for Normal to Dry because I love a rich texture at night.  Now I have combo skin, and as much as I love a rich texture, it's warm out, my skin didn't need all the extra hydration and l was waking up with a little bit of clogged pores, so I switched to the Normal/Combo night cream and that solved that problem.  I continued to use these 2 for almost 4 months.  I did use the Normal/Combo day cream a few times during hot and humid days and while traveling to humid climates, it was the perfect lightweight gel texture for those days, but I really loved the texture of the All Skin Type cream for the dry LA weather.

Clarins has texture down, they know what will work for each skin type, so stick with what they recommend.  My skin felt comfortable and hydrated, but never heavy, every day I wore the creams.  My skin was always glowing, looking fresh, never a clogged pore (except when I tried the cream too rich for my skin).  During my time using these I also decided to give my skin a break from Botox.  I've been getting so many compliments on my skin even though I have facial expressions again. I remember in my very first Clarins training, my fabulous trainer Christy said the night cream will give 8 hours of sleep no matter how few hours I sleep you get.  Every morning I woke up looking like I got a full 8 hours of sleep (my average is an unhealthy 5-6), I almost didn't even want to wash my face in the morning for fear that glow would wash away!

Chances are, if you're in the 25-35 age range, when first signs of aging start, you're stressed the fuck out, not sleeping, and wondering why your skin isn't looking how it did 10 years ago.  The Clarins Multi Active line is a going to work great for you.  It protects from free radical damage while smoothing out those first fine line, so pretty much pausing aging and keeping you looking your best.  The night cream is my favorite of the 2 products just because of how amazing I look in the mornings, but the use of both of them together, you really can't go wrong! At $53 for the day and $56 for the night, they're an affordable luxury you can't afford to miss out on.  Which formula is your favorite??

A Mask A Day...

​My favorite part of my skincare routine is masking. It's fun, gives instant results, and makes a very forgiving selfie. When I heard L'Oreal was making 3 new clay based masks, I said oh hell yeah, sign me up! I mean, at $13 each, buying all 3 is still cheaper than any of my other masks. I tested them all out for you and have been pleasantly surprised.

As soon as I saw they were out, I checked out the ingredients online and was so happy to see they didn't have titanium dioxide. TD is the most widely used mineral sunscreen, and is also used to make skincare products have a white colour. When used in masks it doesn't do a damn thing except act as a cheap filler. As much as I love my inexpensive Korean brands, so many of them use it, probably why I haven't found a Korean clay mask I love.

Purify & Mattify Treatment Mask - Designed to unclog pores and keep this shine free, this green mask contain 3 clays to draw out impurities and eucalyptus to soothe skin.  Out of the 3 masks this was my least favorite.  Did I notice a big different? No. Will I try it again? Definitely, but it will have to go back to the end of my mask queue.

Detox & Brightening Mask - After reading the ingredients on all the masks, this mask contains the highest concentrate of the 3 clays.  Charcoal gives this mask it's jet black colour and pulls out dirt and impurities leaving skin super smooth.  This is my favorite of the 3 masks, my face looked super bright and felt hella fresh, my pores were noticeably clearer.  I think I only left it on for 10min, next time I'll leave it on for 15-20.  Great to use before a night out or to recover from a long night out.

Exfoliate & Refining Treatment Mask - Again we have the 3 clays, Kaolin, Moroccan Lava Clay, and Montmorillonite plus Red Algae to refine.  This mask has more of a grit to it than the other masks, provided by Apricot Seed Powder.  After its dried on the skin 10-15min, splash the face with water and massage to get extra exfoliation.  A great alternative to traditional scrubs, who doesn't love a multi-tasker??

For drugstore masks, even compared to high end masks, these are definitely great products, a total win for L'Oreal.  I'm hoping that they do well and L'Oreal continues to grow their masking category, I'll be the first in line to grab the next ones.  Which is your favorite?

A Fresh Face

When you're good at something you should probably stick with it.  Fresh has found their specialty and its definitely masking, they have captured a huge audience with their collection of face masks for all ages and skin concerns.  While typing this, I'm enjoying their latest Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy Boosting Face Mask.  It holds a huge cocktail of vitamins and fruit extracts containing AHAs to gently exfoliate the skin and leave it brighter and fresher.  Their clinical trials boast everything from refined texture, improved luminosity, and more of a glow with continued use.  I've immediately noticed smoother skin and I definitely have a glow.  Great for a quick fix before going out or as a part of your weekly masking regime.  Fresh Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy Boosting Face Mask $62

I own 4 more of the total 8 Fresh masks, my all time favorite being the Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask.  I've talked about it before and I'll talk about it again, if you have dry skin, you need to treat yourself to this mask.  Yeah its got a hefty price tag ($140) but after one use you'll be hooked.  Containing one of my favorite ingredients Honey, which is a humectant, bringing and sealing moisture into the skin, this mask gives ALL the moisture you could need.  Echinacea improves skin resilience, Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Seabuckhorn Oil provide moisture and omegas, and Vitamin E gives antioxidant protection.  This is my go to mask in dry winter months or after a long week of traveling.  Fresh Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask $140

Always one with clogged pores, I've been loving the Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask lately.  I did it with my best friend a few months ago and woke up in the morning and he was doing it again he liked it so much!  The key ingredient in Fresh's oily skin line is the Umbrian Clay, high in minerals, it works to balance, purify, and clarify the skin.  I like it to help maintain clear pores and spot treat blemishes. Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask $62

The Fresh Rose Face Mask is one I love to use when traveling.  its quick, easy, no mess, and gives a nice refreshing burst of moisture to the skin.  Containing rose water to sooth, aloe and cucumber to calm and cool, and antioxidant rich green tea to brighten and protect.  Great quick fix mask, and can be used every day.  I like to throw it on after the shower while I'm ironing right before bed. Fresh Rose Face Mask $62

Lastly is the Fresh Sugar Face Polish, this was the first Fresh mask I ever tried.  It contains Brown Sugar which is scrubbed in, but it's also a humectant use to seal in moisture, so as it melts into the skin it hydrates.  Wild Strawberry's and Vitamin C are thrown in to brighten the skin and Plum and Grapeseed oil hydrate and nourish.  I rarely leave this one on for the recommended time, but will do it in the shower for a few minutes while I wash and condition my hair.  Fresh Sugar Face Polish $62

One of the things I love most about the Fresh masks is none of them take more than 5-10 minutes, so they're easy to fit into any part of your day for a quick fix with great results.  Which mask are you going to start with?

Audacity

I recently finished my second bottle of the Odacité Wild Carrot serum and first bottle of the Green Tea-Lemongrass.  I'm always skeptical of all natural brands as so many of them have proven ineffective, especially on my Teflon tough-product resistant skin (I mean chemical peels rarely even make me peel).  Odacité (a French play on the word Audacity) was created by a cancer survivor who wanted to cut toxins out of her life but didn't want to sacrifice performance in her skincare.  This is a story I feel I've heard 100 times and have still been let down by the products.  I was so pleasantly surprised when I tried these oils. Within just a few days of use my skin glowing, radiant, and super smooth.  Here's the details

Vital Glow - Wild Carrot Serum Concentrate $55 - Just 2 ingredients, Wild Carrot oil from a small French village and non-GMO Vitamin E.  Wild Carrot is rich in Vitamins A, C, and E, they pack a strong punch to fight wrinkles and smooth out the skin.  Just mix 2-3 drops with your face cream.

Radiant Effect - Green Tea + Lemongrass Serum Concentrate $39 - 3 clean ingredients in here, Green Tea seed oil, non-GMO Vitamin E, and Lemongrass oil.  Green Tea is rich in free radical fighting antioxidants and Lemongrass is detoxifying and uplifting.  These work together to give the skin a beautiful luminosity, I was so surprised how glowy my skin got, I started to ration this oil for special occasions, but really, at $39 it's a steal.

These are the only products I've tried from the line, but methinks I need to invest in a few more! Definitely give them a try to give your current skincare routine a boost!

Les Huiles

Ever since working for Clarins 100 years ago, I've been obsessed with facial oils.  Think about it like this, most cosmetic products are water based, which our skin needs, right?  Okay, but what does our skin naturally produce - oils.  When you mix oil with water what happens?  They separate.  So while water based products can be absorbed into the skin, they don't always penetrate the deepest.  Now when you mix oils with oils they blend together.  So if you take a bacteria fighting oil and mix it with your greasy face, its going to cut that bacteria right down and create balance.  On the flip side, if your Sahara like dry ass skin has no oil (but obviously still has sebaceous glands as tiny as they may be) putting omega rich oils on top of it will make it very happy.  What cosmetics companies can't really claim (but like, its kinda common sense-ish) is that oils penetrate deeper than any other topical treatment because they can mix with our natural oils and enter the skin through those sebaceous glands. 

The other reason I love plant oils and essential oils is that they are the core essence of a plant, all the nutrients from a flower, nut, roots, or leaf squeezed out into a beautiful texture.  When applied, you’re getting all the beautiful actives from that plant, omega fatty acids, and vitamins, they penetrate so beautifully into the skin.  People always ask why my skin is glowing, it’s usually because I have a bunch of oils on.  My skin feels so naked without them.

I’ve used most all of the facial oils on the market and even make my own (hint hint…).  Here are the 2 I’m currently living for.

Korres is an amazing apothecary brand out of Greece that’s specializes in using natural ingredients to create effective skincare products.  I’m a huge fan of their Wild Rose range (I use the Daily Brightening & Refining Buff Cleanser and Vitamin C Petal Peel), when I heard they were launching a Wild Rose Vitamin C Active Brightening Oil I was like “Put it all over my body”.  This oil contains their signature Wild Rose Oil (one of the brands original ingredients) rich in Vitamin C, omega 3, 6, 9 as well as Vitamin A.  The brand also added a Super C active that increases the skin Vitamin C absorption by 1000%.  All these actives promote collagen synthesis, brighten the skin, offer antioxidant-rich free radical protection (making it my choice for my AM routine), and has anti-inflammatory properties.  I’m obsessed with the earthy floral scent and its fast absorbing texture.  I’ve been using this lightweight oil over my serums every morning for a few weeks now and have noticed my skin glowing more and more; I need so little that I’ve barely put a dent in the bottle.  Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Active Brightening Oil 5/5 Stars $54

After hearing all the hype, a friend gifted me the Sunday Riley Luna Oil, while I really wasn’t expecting to even like it (I’m always disappointed when people talk about how amazing a product is) I ended up living for this oil.  This deep blue oil contains Trans-Retinol Esters which help to fight fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.  I’m a huge fan of any type of retinol products, but its pretty rare to find retinols in an oil base. It also has ingredients rich in Azulene, and powerful anti-inflammatory, able to help calm down redness, even redness associated with blemishes; this is also what’s helping calm the skin from any irritation from the retinol.  Luna has other oils that are rich in Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E as well as Omega 3, as well as sebum regulating properties making it ideal or all skin types.  Waking up after an evening of Luna I notice smaller pores, softer skin, less irritation (especially since I’m always doing peels and lasers) and the fine lines on my forehead look a lot softer.  I’ve been using it just under 2 months but it’s a new favorite and I’ll continue to use it!  I apply it over my PM serums before my night cream and retinoid. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil 5/5 Stars $105.

The one that started the obsession 

Let me walk down memory lane to the first facial oil I ever used, Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil.  Clarins started with 3 body oils and later developed 3 facial oils, all 6 oils are still part of the brand today (the Tonic Body Treatment Oil is my JAM and great for pregnant women to help prevent stretch marks).  When I worked for Clarins back in 2003 I was young and very oily.  The Lotus Oil is designed to be used as a rebalancing routine, use it every evening for 3 months to calm down oily skin and make the skin act more “normal”.  Night after night it made my skin softer, pores smaller, skin less oily during the day.  I think my favorite part of the oil is the smell, it’s so herbal its just amazing.  I purchased the oil recently when I was passing through Duty Free and was reminded how much I love it.  I still use it under clay masks to do some extra detox.  For the rebalancing routine apply 2-4 drops to skin still damp from toning and allow it to soak in for a few minutes before going to bed.  To boost your masks, press a few drops onto the skin and apply a clay mask directly over top.  Clarins Lotus Treatment Oil 5/5 Stars $54

First Giveaway!

A friend of mine who lives in Paris and came home for holidays and asked if I needed anything.  Clearly I took advantage and asked him to pick me up a few tubes of A313.  I've decided to be nice and share the wealth in my first contest! On top of the A313, I'll be throwing in 2 of my favorite Skin Food Carrot Collagen Eye Sheets and an Ageless Radiance Mask from Cosmetic Supply Innovations!  There are 3 ways to enter, do 1 or all 3 for bonus entries!

1. Like and tag 2 friends in the Instagram post

2. Like and share your favorite Youth Is A Choice blog post, be sure to leave a comment with your email address in the same post.

3. Repost the Instagram post, be sure to @istvanh1 and use the hashtags #forever27 and #youthisachoice

Contest winner will be announced 2/1!  Good luck!  Available to US residence only :)

Vitamin Oui

If you haven't heard of the legendary Avibon, you're probably not that big of a skincare fanatic.  If you have heard of, then you probably know it's been taken off the market for "reformulation" (I emailed them, it's never coming back). Fortunately there's a substitute, A313.  I ordered this online when I found out about it and immediately fell in love with it as part of my winter brightening routine. It's a Vitamin A cream (retinol), less potent than Avibon, but similar to our prescription retinol creams.  I noticed smaller pores, smoother skin, diminishing fine lines, and brighten skin within a few uses.  It does cause some initial redness, peeling, dryness, and irritation, as do all retinols with any strength, but those side effects fades after about a week.  I suggest applying this over your night cream for less irritation, that's how I use it every or every other night.  If you're headed to France, bring a picture, every pharmacy I went into had no clue what I was talking about, and I went into every one I walked past. I recommend this to anyone and everyone, like Botox and sunscreen, retinols are something everyone should use to keep their skin looking younger.  4.5/5 Stars available on Amazon around $30

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Some of my favorite skincare products come from the French brand Caudalie, so when I heard they were joining forces with Harvard to bring new advancements from their already potent resveratrol, I said "put it all over my body".   The line contains their signature Vine Resveratrol and combines it with Micro Hyaluronic Acid to boost firmness, elasticity, and help your skin to boost its own Hyaluronic Acid levels.  I started using the entire line October 1st and continued through November 1st, here's what I thought.

Let's see how many products I can hold in one hand

The Firming Serum is the key formula in the 4 product line up.  It's also the product I finished first.  Consumer studies on the serum boast denser skin in 7 days, firmer And lifted skin in 28 days, and smoothed wrinkles in 56 days.  Well, after using it twice a day, I only made it to day 28 before I ran out of product.  I'm typically not heavy handed with my skincare, but the serum is thicker than most and I spread all my skincare down my neck, I found I needed quiet a bit of it.  The dropper style dispenser also leads you to believe you can use a full droppers worth.  Last complaint is that the dropper isn't long enough to get out all the product, so I was q-tipping the rest out to get to 28 days.  Despite it only lasting 28 days, I love the results from this serum, my skin was so plump and hydrated and definitely looked firmer.  Great for all skin types who need a boost in hydration and some help with fine lines.  I would recommend it for late 20s and up.  4/5 Stars $82.

I typically hate having sunscreen in my moisturizer because so many irritate my skin.  The Face Lifting Moisturizer SPF 20 was a nice exception to this.  I do wear 30+ SPF so I would still prefer not to have it added in, but on my days running out the door this is a great option.  Its lightweight fluid texture provided a great deal of hydration without being greasy.  I switched to a different moisturizer after November 1st, but now I'm thinking to switch back, I miss how soft it made my skin! 3.8/5 Stars $66

My favorite time for skincare in evening, mostly because I can layer on as many products as I want.  The Resveratrol Lift Night Infusion was a nice addition.  It has a lightweight whipped creamy texture, almost mouse like.  In Caudalie's studies they found 93% of users noticed smoother wrinkles and 90% noticed their skin was more relaxed in 28 days.  Well this is one of the products I kept using after 11/1.  I've been loving how my skin looks in the morning, so refreshed like I actually slept 8 hours (I usually get 4-6).  As its been getting really dry in LA I've found myself needing to add some more oil or alternating with heavier creams, but I keep going back to it.  It's spreads really far, feels like it will last me a long time. I would recommend this to anyone 30+ with Combo-Dry skin in need of a solid great night cream 4.2/5 Stars $76.

Lastly we have the Eye Balm.  Now I'm a bit of an eye cream snob, I've used nearly every one on the market, so I'm quiet particular.  Caudalie reports that 80% of users noticed less puffiness in 28 days.  I don't get puffy, so I can't really talk to that.  It's very lightweight, I felt that it did help my skin stay hydrated, however I like my eye creams a lot thicker.  I felt like I needed an eye cream on top, so I used an Amore Pacific one on top.  I keep grabbing it every morning and night, so I must not hate it, but I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites.  Would be a great starter eye cream for someone, or apparently anyone with puffiness.  3/5 Stars $62

All in all the Resveratrol Lift line has been enjoyable to use, the textures have been different from the rest of their products, and I've enjoyed that.  I still prefer the Premier Cru Face Cream and Eye Cream but this is definitely a nice more affordable option.

UPDATE

Just finished using the Resveratrol Lift Face Lifting Soft Cream after 3 months of use.  It was what I loved about the SPF Moisturizer, and without the sunscreen that I didn't.  This kept my skin hydrated when it was dry, but wasn't so heavy that I ever felt greasy.  My skin glowed every morning I wore it, and stayed super soft and plump.  It even helped when my red was peeling from too much retinol/peels.  I would 100% use this again, the texture was amazing, and I knew my skin was going to always look smooth.  5/5 Stars 😉 $76

Flashback

100 years ago, I worked for Lancôme.  I was obsessed, the skincare smelled and felt amazing, the textures were unreal, the global "innovations" and "1st time" ingredients had me sold.  Then I learned what a marketing ingredient was, and moved on to other products, until recently.  I was given the Advanced Génifique (fake French word) Youth Activating Serum and threw it towards the back of my product queue, until a slot opened up and I decided to give it a try.  The second ingredient is "Bifida Ferment Lysate",  as fermented ingredients are typically high on the list of Korean Essence products I decided to do a little research.  There are no real studies on the effects of this particular bacteria on the skin, but I will tell you this, I'm on my second bottle.  This concentrate absorbs super quick and feels like an instant boost of moisture.  Lancôme bosts some moderate results across all major skin concerns, targeting it to all skin types and ages, so it truly is an "All Skin Type" product.  It features a dropped that premeasures the perfect amount every time you open it; I used this morning and night and it lasted me over 4 months

I finished my first bottle, moved to another product for the past few months and am happy to say I'm glad there was a second bottle in my queue to use.  At $105 for a 1.69oz bottle it may not be the most affordable extra step in your routine,  I give it 4/5 Stars and recommend it to anyone wanting a boost of hydration, radiance, and improvement in texture.  Use after essence and before or as your serum.