BirkinBagBeauty's Best of 2013: Face Care

It's my last section of the "BEST of 2013"-list and I have found some gorgeous face-care newbies last year.

Serum:

Serums are my babies because they are the most effective and potent in targeting a 'problem'. Hence, if you would tell be beginning '13 that I would pick a cheap serum as my favourite, I'd probably laugh: I need a sure investment and normally that means €€€. Still, this 'baby'  has been my favourite all-rounder so far for an affordable price (review Nourish Hydrating Peptide serum here).

[Winter] Daycream: 

Trevano Organic Day Cream is a balmy daycream (think soft cream cheese) that melts easily into the skin. It absorbs within 2 minutes: not every balmy cream does that. Hence, my skin feels hydrated, calmed and is ready for makeup in a short time, perfect for fast mornings. Cons: No sunblock but I get that from specialised suncreens.

Face Oil:

 

I was on par between De Mamiel Autumn Oil & Bodhi Desert Rose Facial Oil. The total blend of aromatherapy & flower remedy made this oil so special that De Mamiel has gotten my vote (more here). 

Night Cream:

You might think I am doing a 'best of Organic' section, but I truly enjoyed the organic bunch the most. Aurelia Cell Revitalise Night Moisturizer is used as the topping over my nightoil. I see the results when I do: dewier, less flakies, more relaxed skin, and I miss it when I don't. 

Eyecream:

Eyecreams start to get important at 'a certain age' and they have quite the list to fullfill: tightening, hydrating, depuffing, combatting undereye circles etc. My favourite is Nourish Revital-Eye Kale Anti-Ageing Eye Cream. [recently reviewed  here]

Selftan:

There hasn't been another face-selftan that live up to Collistar Face Magic Drops Selftan (original review here). I've dabbled into promoted-by-Kate [Moss, not the Driveller] St. Tropez but what's up with the scent? So as Madonna once said, "Italians do it Better"

Mads not the selftan-type but she sure knows to preserve a t-shirt!

Multitasker:

Manuka honey has been a multitasker for cleansing the face (how to here), dabbing on pimples, healing small wounds, adding to masks, a hair lightener (see here) and for a antibacterial sweetener internally.

~ Those are my selections for 'Face Care' ~

My 'Makeup' favourites have been discussed over here and my 'Body'-pampering over here.

Used Ups

"The satisfaction of an emptied cosmetic bottle" 

During summer and (pre) autumn period I have been gladly using these up:

1. Elemental Herbology body lotion in Neroli & Rose Damask:

Originally a part of a set that includes a bodywash. The consistency of the bodylotion is ok, although it is not the most rapidly absorbing one. I didn't like the scent: somewhat a stale, watered rose and I could not pick up any of the uplifting Neroli essences.

2. Osea Undaria Algae Oil for body:

Not the cheapest around but once really effective for reversing post-beach (sun) damage and I believe it has lightening/age-reversing properties. This is probably not merely a clue as the Osea site says:

"rich in organic botanical oils, sea minerals and antioxidants. This is the ultimate skin repair loaded with luscious seed oils--acai, babassu, passion fruit, sesame--and Undaria Algae, to deliver powerful antioxidant vitamins and essential fatty acids to dry, sun-damaged skin."

 It's not quite cheap for $38 but it will give you 180 ml/6 oz and this oil lasts long. My only pet-peeve is that I got it from Canada and customs has been charging this seller for two times in a row, which makes it more expensive and the wait longer. This is the reason I have been experimenting with other bodyoils lately otherwise I'd repurchase.
 

3. Pukka Nourishing Face Oil

"a restorative treatment oil especially formulated for dry or damaged skin" (Pukka site)

Indeed! I had this oil 'hanging' in my closet for a while. During August I suddenly experienced really bad skin with new dry spots and my older scars became apparent again. I forgotten the oils for nighttime due to summer but I gotten this one in. Initially, the organic Rose Otto essences felt slightly irritating on my highly agitated skin, but my skin adapted to it the second and ongoing days. 

Short story: my skin has improved hugely and I'm so glad I had it around!

4. Aurelia Revitalise & Glow Serum

First review here. I finished a second bottle with is a claim of effectiveness for itself. I will review it more accurately soon.

A restorative treatment oil especially formulated for dry or damaged skin, - See more at: http://www.pukkaherbs.com/nourishing-face-oil-item.html#sthash.CMBvmgAB.dpuf

A restorative treatment oil especially formulated for dry or damaged skin, gently fragranced with rose and rose geranium.
Avocado and pomegranate for essential nourishment.
Calendula and rose otto for a radiant glow.
Nourishing Face Oil contains Omega Oil Formula, a fortified signature blend of Ayurvedic herbs which helps revitalise tired skin.
- See more at: http://www.pukkaherbs.com/nourishing-face-oil-item.html#sthash.CMBvmgAB.dpuf

A restorative treatment oil especially formulated for dry or damaged skin, gently fragranced with rose and rose geranium.
Avocado and pomegranate for essential nourishment.
Calendula and rose otto for a radiant glow.
Nourishing Face Oil contains Omega Oil Formula, a fortified signature blend of Ayurvedic herbs which helps revitalise tired skin.
- See more at: http://www.pukkaherbs.com/nourishing-face-oil-item.html#sthash.CMBvmgAB.dpuf

5. Collistar Face Magic Drops Self Tanner

Original review here. Also, this has been my 3rd bottle and has been a skinsaver during the (fake)tan season. I have tried some other facial self-tans but Collistar gives the most natural & healthy tanned result.

Italians don't Fake: Collistar: Face Magic Drops (self-tanner)

A while ago I found myself not too satisfied with my collection of selftanners. The ones I have do a good job on my body but I found it not giving me a lasting bronze on my face...

I knew I had to find something else for the face. I tested out a product in the drugstore: Collistar Gocce Magiche Viso Concentrato autoabbronzante effeto ultra-rapido, or in easier (for me) English Face Magic Drops Self-tanning concentrate ultra-rapid effect.

Well, if you were lured to this article by the title you'll guess I do not really associate the classic Italian woman (or man) with self-tanning. I somewhat have the images of some famous Italians in mind:  Anna Della Russo (if she had work done it has been done quite naturally and she's a fan of real tanning), Monica Belluci (so beautiful at 47: if she's done surgery it was a really subtle one) who seems to embrace a more paler colour, Donnatella Versace (obvious work done & I guess real tanning),

Bellucci wearing NO MAKEUP & looking absolutely amazing  for the Elle France April 2009

Della Russo (49): her face shows signs of tanning in her life

Donatella (57): obvious Plastic surgery but the neck is a giveaway for a tanning past (probably her tan too)

(Sorry for the large pictures but as beautybloggers we look beyond the fashionable clothes of these stylish Italians and most of us are concerned with premature ageing as well. I wanted to show you the effect of tanning (Donatella & Anna) compared to frequent sun- protection (Monica B))

I DO believe the younger generation of Italians believe in a high sunscreen and will probably self-tan too, but my image of the 'classic italian' is of true sun-admirers.

So, if an Italian product would fake a tan: it should be

1. Good and realistic looking
2. on the darker spectrum
3.  beautifying

And Collistar Face Magic Drops promise all 3!

Ingredients:

'Swatches'

1. Applicator with the liquid:

2. A drop of bronze Magic on a vampire-state inner arm: 

3. Just applied: Slightly dewy and already a believable bronze glow:

4. Spot after 4 hours: a warm bronze that is neither too dark, nor too light.

My experience: 

It stood the boyfriend test! Sometimes  I apply one of my XenTan's on my face, & I get the 'what have you done??? Did you put poo on your face?' remark.  Most girls like to look beautiful and most boyfriends know the girls do stuff to make them prettier, but, like many men,  they do not really wanted to be confronted to them. Ok, there are some men who would go with you and have a dual treatment in a beauty-parlor, but somehow that wouldn't really be my cup-of-tea either.

When I apply my Collistar Magic drops I do get an instant tan (as seen in the swatches) but it's a glowy kind of tan that almost looks like good makeup or, better, a real tan!

The fading is gradual and not blotchy at all: It fades after 3 days (and I scrub & clarisonic a lot so that's why my Xen Tan isn't really holding on to my face).
Most of all, it really feels like a beauty treatment combined with tanning because my face gets a lovely glow during and afterwards.
The scent with application is a floral one with a hint of coconut, almost perfumy, but it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin at all: It smells rather like a niche perfume.
When developing there was no 'biscuit' fake-tan scent, which, close to your sniffer, is quite good.

Conclusion:

Truely, when Italians fake they sure do not let you know about it! This stuff is really a magic bronzer and really wonderful for the face.