Marissa’s Pick of the Week!

Hi everyone,

  The fall colors are in and I’m just loving the purple and berry shades of the season.  My pick of the week is Giorgio Armani’s new Lip Wax!  I love the little pot with the mirror and the colors can be layered for a deep hue or patted on as a sheer wash.  No lip brush needed, this is a finger painting lippy!  I multi-task with the lip wax too. I like to use a pinch of #4 Raspberry on my cheeks.  Also, #5 Cardinal Red is a beautiful shade that will flatter any skin tone.  Add your favorite lip gloss (Armani #1 or #7 for me) and off you go!  This is a great lippy that will soon become a staple in your makeup bag!

My Stress Cream was stressing me out!

It was Beauty Week at Neiman Marcus and I wanted some new fall skin care.  I’ve always had success with La Prairie so over to their counter I went.  The sales rep was very nice but not 100% up to speed with everything in the brand.  And, of course, she wanted me to try their new luxury item Cellular Cream Platinum Rare (at $1,000.00 a jar…so not for me in this economy or any economy!)  However, she did recommend the La Prairie Anti-Aging Stress Cream, different from their Swiss Care line, as the core is a herbal complex.  It had a bit of a smell, not offensive, but not really pleasant either.  Since the seasons are changing here in the northeast, I thought this was just the cream I was looking for.  Wrong!  After two days of using the cream, my face broke out and my skin was red.  Normally, I can go without wearing foundation, but I had to do some major covering during the rest of the week.  I don’t know if it was the mushroom complex in the cream or the Valerian Root extract, but it did not like my skin.  Needless to say, it’s going back.  However, I’m not giving up on La Prairie; their Foam Cleanser and Cellular Refining Toner are the best, and they just came out with a new marine biology collection that I might try.  And if that doesn’t do the job…that’s okay, I won’t stress out about it! 

- Marissa

Target launches designer makeup lines

I wouldn’t say that Target is my top destination for the latest in designer beauty, beyond maybe the next mascara from Maybelline, so I was intrigued on my last visit to see a new display with Pixi, JK Jemma Kidd, and NP Set – all lines from top designers who have (either currently or in the past) product lines with major doors like Sephora or Bloomingdales. Why the mass vs. class switch? Looks like the one-stop-shop mentality has hit high-end cosmetics.

I decided to take a look at Pixi first, picking up some basics like foundation, blush and an eye palette. Even though the products appeared to be on sale, just those three things rang up to $83! I will try to stop harping on the sticker shock, but this is Target, right?

There are a few options for foundation in the Pixi line; I opted for Flawless Vitamin Veil ($35), a compact creamy foundation with sheer to medium coverage.  I chose the Medium shade, even though the tester looked a bit dark, but now that I have worn it for a few days, I think it is a decent match for me. Seeing as there are only three shades to choose from (light, medium and tanned), the formula would have to be fairly universal and adaptable or no one could wear it. Flawless Vitamin Veil is not a long-wearing formula, so expect to touch-up if you need the coverage to last into the evening. It is also not the best for fines lines, as it likes to settle a bit rather than float over the skin. The packaging is cute, the drawer for the sponge is a little unnecessary, but the sponge itself is decent. Overall this is a fine foundation if you like light coverage and aren’t concerned about lines and wrinkles. One positive for me: no breakouts. I am not sure that I will buy it again, especially with so many other brands and formulas to try

Pixi has a few choices for cheeks – powder, liquid, and gel. I like a light, sheer flush, so I picked Sheer Cheek Gel ($20). A tiny dab is perfect for a natural looking flush, and this gel is fairly forgiving, so you don’t have to worry about streaks and blotches if you don’t blend it in immediately. I chose Rosy, pictured here; there is also Natural, Sun Kissed and Flushed.

I debated about the rest of the collection – what to try, what shades to pick – until I spotted the Eye Beauty Kit ($28) in Minimum. This is a perfect set of colors for me, a mix of light neutrals and deep browns and charcoals. The shadows themselves are a  bit shiny for my taste, but as long as I use a light touch, blend well, and apply only to the lid, I can pull it off. I also have a love-hate relationship with the enclosed brush. The stiff liner end is okay, but the brush meant for shadows really needs to be softer. The shadows are not finely milled as a higher end brand like Chanel or Dior, so when you rake this rigid shadow brush over the surface, it’s like taking a shovel to it. Do yourself a favor and find a softer brush.

Pixi has much more to be discovered. Drop me a line if you try something and love it!

- Heather

Do you really need a $175 eye cream?

I hate getting lured into the wrinkle-free promise of an expensive cream, and for a few seconds, I often do. I want what it says it will do, I want it to work, yet I know it’s a promise that only delivers an empty wallet.

Think of what you could buy with $175

My most recent weakness – Chanel Sublimage Eye Essential Regenerating Eye Cream, for a whopping $175 for a half ounce jar. I must be crazy! I have a responsibility to discover if it’s really worth that much, so I dutifully apply, morning and night, until the jar is empty.

I feel like there should be so much more to the story, but unfortunately I got just what I expected: I still have wrinkles. My eyes look the same as they did before I started using Sublimage Eye. I still have fine lines. I still have dark circles. I still don’t look 25 anymore. These are all areas the cream promises to address (maybe not the part about not looking 25 anymore).

Not $175!

Do yourself a favor and save your money! A few weeks post-Chanel, I headed over to my local Walgreens drugstore and picked up at $25 tube of RoC Multi-Correxion Eye Treatment, to see if a drugstore brand could tackle the anti-aging job any better. While I think $25 is a little expensive for the drugstore, I already notice more improvement in my skin after just a few weeks using the RoC cream. Nothing dramatic – it’s still just a cream – but it imparts a nice soft glow and makes the rather wrinkly areas a little less noticeable. I look more rested (and trust me, I am not), and my skin looks brighter.

I also appreciate it that it works well with my other skincare (Care by Stella McCartney) and my foundation (Lancome Teint Idole Ultra) without clumping or pilling. It sinks right in with no greasiness or plastic-y residue. Finding this eye cream is a welcome reminder that RoC has some nice products that I may consider in the future.

- Heather

Thanks for your support

Summer has faded, the rainy season is beginning, sweaters and boots are replacing tank tops and sandals – it is a time of change. We have been going through some changes here at Cosmetic Connection, including a new location here in Portland, a new look for the site, and a new system for sending updates. What has not changed is our heartfelt appreciation for your support. We hope you enjoy the new look and new reviews. Thank you for reading!