Själ Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask

I've heard about Själ Skincare a while ago but recently got to try one of their products. Founded by a Swedish mother/daughter duo, the luxury beauty brand focuses on minerals and gemstones to fight aging skin. They also use Eastern medicine to balance each potent formula.

Their Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask is so dreamy to look at—just gazing at it relaxed me a bit. The pearly aqua blue mousse doesn't have much of a scent and it only tingled a bit after application. It contains amino acids, gold, platinum, and silver to tone and firm while blue sapphire, silk proteins and biochemical tissue salts restore and even skin tone. Oxgenating herbs like ginger, tamanu, blue chamomile, royal jelly and ginseng help calm and soothe reactive skin.

My face feels so much smoother and brighter after using it...even the fine lines are plumped up. If you haven't been sleeping well or your skin looks way tired, this is one to try out!

Available for $150 (2 oz) at sjalskincare.com and Barneys New York.

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Clarins Spring 2017 Makeup

As usual, Clarins is offering a lovely selection of makeup for spring 2017. You already saw how fun the 4-Colour All-in-One Pen is. Their lipsticks and eyeshadows are just as practical and great to use. 

The 4-Colour Eyeshadow Palette ($43) in 05 Smoky lets you effortlessly create the smoky eye. Use it wet or dry depending on the intensity you want, and the satin and matte shades can be used separately for simpler day looks. 

The Ombre Iridescente ($25) in 09 Silver Rose and 10 Silver Grey make such a pretty combo. The texture feels especially creamy on the lids and the buildable pigments are so opaque. You get lots of color with just a few dabs. I especially love the Silver Grey—it's so easy to apply it with your ring finger if you're low on time. 

I'm always a huge fan of their lipsticks and the new shades of Joli Rouge Brilliant ($29) are perfect for warmer months. The 31 Tender Nude is a peachy nude with the perfect shine while 32 Hot Pink makes a sassy statement. The 33 Plum is darling for those who want a bit of drama but still want to remain girly and romantic. 

Available at www.clarinsusa.com and all Clarins counters. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Bellatorra Cellular Repair Night Cream

Bellatorra, a relatively new luxury skincare line, features Torra48, a microscopic encapsulated delivery system that allows their products to deliver optimal benefits for 48 hours. 

Their new Cellular Repair Night Cream is fortified with retinol, glycolic acid and sodium hyaluronate to repair and retexturize the deepest layers of the skin. The paraben-free formula also contains three peptides to address sagging, trigger collagen renewal and increase facial volume.

 

At first glance it looked pretty thick but you only need a thin layer to properly cover the entire face. It also absorbed very easily and my sensitive skin didn't have any adverse reaction. My skin feels and looks more refined and noticeably softer from regular use—I'm excited to see what happens if I use it for another 2-3 months!

Available for $385 (1.7 fl oz/50 ml) at Bellatorra.com and Barneys New York flagship stores. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer

This month NARS released their Soft Matte Complete Concealer, their highest-coverage, oil-free cream formula that covers dark circles and imperfections. 

Collagen-boosting peptides smooth the appearance of fine lines while vitamins A, C and E are added to condition the skin. This one is great at hiding those panda eyes and it doesn't feel heavy at all. The key is to dab lightly and blend as much as you can. Custard is great for light-medium complexions with yellow tones but you can also use Honey if you're slightly paler. 

Available for $30 at www.narscosmetics.com and all NARS counters. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Clarins 4-Colour All-in-One Pen

A limited edition launch for spring 2017, the highly-anticipated Clarins 4-Colour All-in-One Pen ($30) just went on sale over the weekend. How fun is it to have all your makeup liners within one retractable pen?

The creamy formula is enriched with sunflower seed wax, black acacia flower wax and jojoba so it won't tug on the lids. It comes with shades of indigo blue, black, and brown for the eyes while the beige is for the lips (to prevent feathering). You can also use the brown shade to fill in the eyebrows.  

This is so great for the beauty minimalists and those who adore multi-tasking products. Just bring this pen along with your fave lipstick and you're all set!

Available at www.clarinsusa.com and all Clarins counters. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Hiram Green Arbolé Arbolé

Hiram Green's new perfume, Arbolé Arbolé, is inspired by a famous Spanish poem. Romantic in tone, this new creation is woody and powdery. Though not for everyone, it will certainly attract those looking for something unusual and deceptively simple.

The warm, earthy fragrance comes on spicy with cedar wood, patchouli and sandalwood, then commences a pas de deux with honeyed vanilla and powdery tonka bean. A sweeping romance indeed. Plus, the bottle and perfume color is just stunning. This should tempt most niche perfume lovers so give it a try before committing!

Available in a 10ml EDP spray (€39) and 50ml bottle (€135) at hiramgreen.com and Luckyscent. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Aftelier Organic Aged Pu-erh Tea in Tangerine

If you need a bit of sunshine during these dark winter months, the Aftelier Organic Aged Pu-Erh Tea in Tangerine (25 gr; $20) will brighten your days considerably. Mandy makes this one extra special by sun drying the tea inside a tangerine peel for a week. To make it even more gourmet she added a touch of her amazing Yellow Mandarin Aftelier Chef’s Essence. 

Yummy citrus notes emanate from the package, making my mouth water. Be sure to brew it with a few bits of the tangerine peel! Smooth and slightly earthy, the aged Yunnan tea isn't bitter at all, and you can detect notes of honey and light caramel. Treat yourself to a container, or gift your favorite gourmand!

Available at www.aftelier.com.

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

True Botanicals Body Balms

Last month, True Botanicals introduced a trio of gorgeous Body Balms (4 fl oz; $125-$200). Like all their products each one is crafted with a solid list of nutrient-rich ingredients, delivering immediate healing benefits. 

I tried the Rose + Neroli and wow...it's like you're bathed in a sumptuous veil of flowers. For several minutes I even felt like a queen. This balm is a major lifesaver during the winter months when we're all blasting our heaters—I even dab it on my face to treat an occasional dry patch. The souffle-like texture is non-greasy and absorbs right into the skin. You don't need a ton of it to nourish your body—it's best to use it right after a shower so you can seal it in. 

Two other precious scents, Frankincense + Sandalwood and Oud, are also offered, so go ahead and treat yourself!

Available at truebotanicals.com. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Eminence Age Corrective Ultra

The Eminence Age Corrective Ultra collection offers a fun, effective way to correct fine lines and tired eyes. I've been enjoying the Hibiscus Instant Line Filler ($70), which contains an awesome curved tip applicator to massage the serum into trouble areas. The formula contains hibiscus, ice wine active, stevia, botanical peptides (from hibiscus), and Voluform to soften and plump expression lines. You can use this once or twice a day under your regular cream. 

The Hibiscus Ultra Lift Eye Cream ($96) contains similar ingredients as the Hibiscus Instant Line Filler with the addition of caffeine and green algae to lift, hydrate, and de-puff the eye area. The stainless steel rollerball applicator is very soothing—I just love rolling it all over the eye area to relax myself. One little pump is all you need for both eyes and it did a great job at diminishing the fine lines. 

For more info: eminenceorganics.com

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

2016 Beauty Gift Guide

From stocking stuffers to more substantial gifts, the following beauty picks will please every beautyholic in your life.

Patyka's bestselling Huile Absolue is a multi-tasking treasure. Made of 12 organic essential oils and plant extracts, you can use it for face, body and hair. $70; us.patyka.com.

Jane Iredale offers a cute Champagne on Ice lip gloss kit that's perfect as little stocking stuffers. $35; Dermstore.com.

 

If your beloved prefers natural perfumes, the new Aftelier Amber Tapestry will cheer her up. The unisex Oriental Amber fragrance is a warm, sumptuous cocoon that protects you from the elements. $6-$180 in various sizes (EDP & liquid perfume); www.aftelier.com.  

Skincare lovers will love the True Botanicals Trial Kits. These sets are the ideal introduction to the natural luxury skincare brand, providing everything to revitalize and address problematic, sensitive, and aging skin. $50-$100; truebotanicals.com.

Get easy smoky eyes with the Gucci Impact Smoky Eye Pencils. Available in three shades, these come with an applicator tip to make blending along the lash line effortless. $31.50; gucci.com.

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.