Crème de la Mer Ultimate Experience

The past few days were hell. It had been a long time since I felt this ill and therefore I've spend the last 4 days camping on the sofa/in bed, which bored me out of my mind. And this while knowing that I've got plenty things waiting for me to finish up at work. And the only thing I craved for -besides a decent meal, I've been surviving on bread sticks- was the full body massage I got at work last week, to loosen me up and liberate me from this constant headache.

Last week I got to opportunity to be a model for a La Mer-expert, that needed to train her massaging skills. When a friend of mine at work told me about it, at first I thought that it would be nothing more than a mini-facial along with some skincare tips. Little did I know she signed me up for the Crème de la Mer Ultimate Experience. It was amazing: my feet, legs, stomach, back, neck and arms, literally every inch of my body got exfoliated, scrubbed and massaged with La Mer's top-rated products. And if that weren't enough I got a complete face treatment as well. I believe I almost fell asleep when the La Mer-exepert started to massage the contours of my eyes with The Eye Concentrate's applicators, and it wasn't just because calm ocean sounds were playing in the background. I've been a regular at beauty spa's, especially after stressful exams, seeking for some treatment to calm me down. If I only knew that La Mer gives the best spa treatments! But then again, back then I was living on a student budget...

I know what I'm getting my mom this upcoming Mother's day. I'm getting her a gift card for this 2,5 hour lasting treatment! Not only because I want to pamper her with some of the best beauty products out there (she's a huge fan of The Moisturizing Gel Cream btw) but also, I've been bragging about The Body Refiner so much lately, that I've probably made her very curious.

During the massage last week, the La Mer-expert said to her trainer that 'indeed, The Body Refiner-scrub gave my skin a sparkly glow'. When I asked them both how so, they told me that I had about 2 carat diamond powder on me. I couldn't believe it: diamond dust in body and face creams? After the treatment, I checked the mirror and yes, I was sparkling from head to toe. But more importantly, my skin felt incredibly soft and smooth. And I couldn't stop looking at my skin up close, never mind talking about how fun my day at work had been. So now, on my wish list: I want The Body Refiner!

PS: And since my boyfriend broke his collar bone today, maybe I owe him a La Mer Ultimate Experience-massage as well in four-to-six weeks ...

Clinique - New Clarifying Lotion

Of course when I meet up with my girlfriends, we often discuss our favorite beauty products. And although most of them use the best skincare products in the world, it surprises me that, when I ask them what they are using to exfoliate their skin, they usually answer 'nothing'. 

Exfoliating your skin is crucial. It removes dead skin cells, which will give you a more radiant look, while clearing your pores. Furthermore, it helps the moisturizers and other products you use afterwards to be more effective since they can treat your skin more thoroughly without having dead skin cells literally blocking their way. And a great plus is that exfoliating helps speeding up the renewal of cells, which makes your skin look younger and brighter. 

My favorite exfoliator by far is Clinique's Clarifying Lotion, which I use twice a day. Since I need mild treatments for my sensitive skin, Clarifying Lotion 1 works wonders for me. I love the fresh feeling it leaves on my skin when sweeping this water-like product on a cotton pad over my face. And now, this Clinique classic has been updated. As from today you'll find the new Clarifying Lotions in store, which help clearing your skin from everyday pollution, stress and a hectic lifestyle. In brief, it has the same benefits as the previous formula but will protect your skin even more from external influences.

All of my other beauty favorites I can do a day without, but when it comes to the Clarifying Lotion, I can really tell by the appearance of my skin when I skipped a day. And so I always have a backup bottle just in case, but then again that goes for the entire 3 Step Skin Care. 

A tip I usually give my girl friends: I know that great beauty products can be expensive, and even more so when you can't immediately find the ones that work for you. Of course getting the right advice from your sales assistant is essential but a good way to give Clinique a fair try without splurging, are the Introductory Kits. You can find 3 Step-sets, which includes the Facial Soap, the new Clarifying Lotion and the DDML, for about 30 euro. And trust me, they go a long way. 

Clinique.be

When using skin products, it is truely important to use the right treatments for your skin. You can buy the best products in quality -or price- but if the make-up or the skincare products don't match your skin, it won't be worth a thing. So getting the right advice, regarding which product to use or what fits your skin type is crucial!

And that's what Clinique's Live Chat is all about.
On Tuesday the 23rd of November from 4 to 7pm, you can talk online with Clinique's most renowned experts in skincare and beauty. Just visit Clinique.be and you'll get advice made to measure from the lovely girls that taught me everything I know about given your skin the treatment it deserves!

See > My Clinique Favorites > Skin Care and Beauty

Make-up

As promised.

This is my daily make-up routine / everyday look:


Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF 15 (in 0 Porcelain)
I love this liquid foundation since it matches my skin tone exactly, it keeps my skin from being shining at the end of the day and it feels incredibly light, al though it's 30°C outside now -note: normally I don't wear foundation in the summer, but I need the extra SPF to protect my skin.
(See: earlier post about this product)

Clinique Airbrush Concealer (in Neutral Fair)
I combine my foundation with this amazing concealer. It really opens up my eye and illuminates it. I can really tell when I'm not wearing it, so adding some concealer to the inner/top corner of my eye is a must.

Clinique Almost Powder Makeup SPF 15 (in Fair)
To keep my skin from shining during the hottest part of the day, I always carry this mineral powder with me. It works great on my forehead, underneath my bangs. A great tip someone once told me: never put a powder underneath your eyes, since it will make the fine lines more visible and makes you look older.
Note: I used to use the Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder (in Invisible Matte) which is great too if you like a sheer and invisible foundation.

Every once and a while, I use a blusher. Favorites: Soft Pressed Powder Blusher (in Pink Blush) and Fresh Bloom Allover Color (in Peony). The one in the picture is Shimmering Stripes Powder Blusher (in Cabana Pink).

Clinique Cream Shaper For Eyes (in Black Diamond)
After I've created the perfect base, I add some eyeliner pencil on the base of my eyelids. I love the shimmer in this color and the fact that it's creamy, which is perfect in combination with my contacts.

M*A*C Fluidline (in Blacktrack)
I finish off with adding some eyeliner on my top eyelid. I'm crazy for this long wearing creamy product. It stays put a long time, much longer than a liquid eyeliner, in my opinion. I use the 208 Angled Brow Brush to apply it: easy as one, two, three... If I feel a bit more daring, I apply Clinique's Brush-On Cream Liner, in one of last year's top colors, purple.

Clinique High Impact Mascara
Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara
A great mascara to add volume is the High Impact Mascara. But when I don't have my eyelash curler with me, I use the High Impact Curling Mascara, one of my personal favorites! If you're a fan of small brushes, I would recommend the Lash Power Mascara Long Wearing Formula. Next up, I would like to try Clinique's new High Lengths Mascara.

Clinique High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15 (in Red-y to Wear)
I love the classic 50's red lips. But ever since I learned that your bottom lip is extra sensitive for the harmful rays of the sun, I always make sure to check if the lipstick features a protective SPF. That's way I love the High Impact Lip Colour, especially in Red-y to Wear. But I remember trying on every color of the line during my time at Clinique, and they have some great colors (e.g. Cider Berry)! My sister for example is a huge fan of the In a Nutshell-color. My mom and aunt both use the plum and nude-tones.
I also love and use: Colour Surge Bare Brillance in Tropical Punch.
Want: Long Last Lipstick in Red Hot. Different Lipstick in Angel Red.

Occasionally I use a lip gloss, for instance during cold and harsh winter days. So I've got another Clinique Favorite: Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine (in Playfull Plump). When I don't feel like a shiny gloss, I protect my lips with Superbalm Lip Treatment.

When it comes to nail polish, I don't use Clinique since they don't manufacture it (nail polish is not suitable for some people: allergies!). And I also use a lot of different colors in my eye shadow. My favorite brands are Clinique for the daytime looks, and they're also ophthalmologist tested for contact lenses. If I want a more bold look for a late night party, I opt for M*A*C's Eye Shadow in Black Tied or Swimming and Shadestick in Sharkskin.

By the way, if you're a big fan of beauty blogs make sure to check the Peaches Tells You-blog. I love Katerina's tutorials!

Clinique Skin Care

The current weather conditions keep reminding me of how important and essential a good skin treatment is. And so, I finally got the chance to write a post about my daily routine, which -as I mentioned before- consists of using exclusively Clinique-products. Ever since I did my first internship at the brand's headquarters, my skin never looked better.

Although I am Italian, I have a very pale and sensitive skin type, so it's crucial that I use products fit my basic skin needs: sun protection and allergy tested. 

So this is how I start and end my day with; 

3 Step Skin Care

First I make sure to clean my skin properly. One of my favorite products is the Facial Soap-bar, since it makes my skin feel refreshed. At home I use the bar, yet since I travel so much back and forth to my dorm at university -I always leave the big bottles at home, and just refill the 'sample sized ones-, I always make sure to pack the liquid version. Next I exfoliate with the Clarifying Lotion. Even though I'm a skin type 2, when it comes to the exfoliator I use number 1 since it is more gentle for sensitive skins. Lastly, I moisturize with the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, which suits its name perfectly. 

Once a week I scrub my skin with the 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula, because it's really important to remove dead skin regularly. Sometimes I add to that a mask. 

Pore Minimizer Refining Lotion

Before I started my internship, I always believed that it was impossible for a cream to reduce pores. Yet, I decided to give the Pore Minimizer a try and this serum-like lotion really makes a world of difference! Plus it makes my skin feel incredibly soft. 

Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer

During my first internship at Clinique, I wrote a press release about the updated Superdefense-moisturizer. I really love its creamy texture and lightness, and I always take my jar with me in my carry-on luggage whenever I'm traveling, since it keeps my fairly dry skin hydrated at all times. More importantly, it helps your skin face everyday stress and pollution, which may cause your skin to age faster. But for me, the best feature of this products is that it protects my pale skin from the harmful rays of the sun (very very important for every skin type by the way)! I try to replace this product in the evening with Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer, but I usually end up using the Superdefense again. 

All About Eyes

Again, before I started my internship I didn't use an eye cream on a regular basis. But when Clinique's Education Manager pointed out that it is crucial to start reducing fine lines underneath your eyes before the actual damage is done -'yes, even when you're only 22 years old' she said-, I've been applying a layer of this pinkish gel every single day. Plus, it's a must during exhausting exams. As you can tell from the picture, I need to head over the store the get me a new large jar, asap. 

Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

I wish I could bathe in this gel! Moisture Surge actually feels as it is featured in its ad campaign; like a splash of water across your face, when you apply it. 

My boyfriend regularly asks me where I find the patience to apply seven different skin care products, every single day and night. But actually it only takes up a few minutes. And even if it took me a full half hour to apply all these creams, gels and lotions I would still be doing this, since your skin is an important part of your immune system and I also would like to age beautiful ... I therefor use make-up products that are equally protective and good for my skin. And so: next up - My Clinique Beauty Routine... 

Part of my daily Clinique-routine - Click to enlarge