I’ll be honest, I haven’t stepped foot into an Aveda shop for a good 10 years. Until Wednesday night. I came across the Blue Oil which promises to relieve stress, dissolve tension while raising energy levels.
While I like to rely on benzo’s and/or a glass of vino, I realize I can’t be popping pills or be hooked up to a Pinot Noir IV at the office. I bought it with my hopes held high.
As luck would have it, yesterday was a rather brutal day at my 9-5ish gig so I rolled the oil onto my temples, wrists and behind my ears. It tingled a bit and smelled heavily of peppermint and chamomile. Despite the name, the oil comes out clear. The best part is that it’s not greasy so you don’t have to worry about breakouts.
Aveda take me away….
Purchase yours here
Not everyone can afford Lanvin, including myself. But that ends June 15th when Alber Elbaz’s nine-piece range for Lancome is released. Due out in limited quantities, the range also includes one set of false lashes and four different Color Design Eye Shadow Palettes, each bearing the same four motifs scrawled onto the mascara tubes in blue stars, red hearts, pink polka dots, and green heavily lashed lids. An animated video bringing Elbaz’s pop-up book to life will go viral in anticipation of their launch.
“Eyes are the new fashion accessory. People are obsessed with eye makeup. It’s the most complicated, and it’s the one thing that really can transform you the most. For lipsticks, if you like pinks, you’ll always wear pinks, and if you like foundation, you’ll always wear the foundation you love. But the eye, if you work on your brows, the eyeliner, the mascara—you can truly transform yourself, in the good sense of the term. For me, there is a kind of superficiality in lipstick. I’m sorry to say that. It’s like having a fashion accessory that you will have and then put away. The eye is there to last. It’s also a symbol of authenticity. People say the mirror of the soul is the eyes. I think eyes are really deep. I remember once being in a very fancy place for vacation one weekend with this group of people—their watches were shining, their nails were shining, their hair was shining, their skin and clothes were shining, and their cars were more than shining. But their eyes did not shine. I understood they were not happy. I think that this project is somehow like ‘happy eyes.’”
A tiny jar of gorgeous turquoise goop showed up at my door earlier this week. It was Tracie Martyn’s Enzyme Exfoliant and it was spectacular.
The Enzyme Exfoliant is a thick cream with slightly abrasive flakes embedded. The scent is strong and unique: aquatic, mint, eucalyptus…earthy, you get the point. I scooped out a tablespoon and rubbed it in circular motions onto my damp face. (The damper the skin is, the better the exfoliant will to work.) Then I left the mask on for about fifteen minutes and watched some mind-numbing tv. During this time, the cream dries just like a clay mask, but you don’t get that tight or dry feeling. Instead, there is a cooling sensation. I rinsed with cool water and it came off easily.
My skin was left feeling super smooth. As promised, there was absolutely no redness. I went to bed slightly disappointed that I didn’t see more of a difference. However, when I woke up my skin looked amazing. Clearer, more fair and even-toned and my mug glowed. Seriously. The enzyme exfoliant transformed my face into a perfect, glowing slate.
The ingredient list is all natural and chock full of good acids: aqua (purified water), pineapple enzymes, glycerin, caprilic/capric triglycerides, diatomaceous earth, cetyl octanoate, kaolin, kojic acid dipalmitate gallic acid, squalane, albumin, silicone dioxide, titanium dioxide, salicylic acid, malic acid hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, gamma aminobutyric acid (gaba), menthol lactic acid. D-alpha tocopherol (vitamin e), jasmine extract, xantham gum, mexican tea extract, algae extract, azulene, vitamin c ester, amla extract, blend of natural essential oils.
