DIAMBEAUTÉ Supreme Refining Crème: The Secrets Of Classic French Skincare

- by Caroline Hastings-Brown -

The French are an enviable nation whose accomplishments and lifestyle seem so beautiful and effortless. The driving force of the Nation is in the quest for beauty – just look at the focus on architecture – the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Notre Dame. Look at the language, the musical lilting of the rolling French ‘language of love’ and the food and wine – some would say the very best in the world.

And the beauty of French women – timeless, classic, elegant and full of confidence. French women realize that skin care is a necessary part of life. For French women, a little bit of pampering isn't just a luxury, it is about choosing only the best and understanding that you are entitled to have a beauty routine that makes you look and feel beautiful at the same time.

The Rolls Royce Of Skin Care Ingredients

Which is why the DIAMBEAUTÉ Supreme Refining Crème has been created by none other than the French. Using black truffles, also known as Black Diamond, as the main ingredient, it has major and miraculous skincare benefits. Research has shown that black truffle has 18 kinds of amino acids (including 8 essential amino acids), which are effective in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains a rich blend of vitamins, antioxidants and trace elements, which promotes skin renewal for a more radiant, translucent and youthful complexion.

DIAMBEAUTÉ also introduces three natural ingredients which have been acknowledged by scientists for their skin beautifying effects – diamond powder, 24K gold and SEPILIFT™ DPHP. Extra-fine diamond powder penetrates into the skin to stimulate skin cell renewal, revealing glowing, younger-looking skin; 24K gold helps revitalize skin, improve dullness, and promote skin metabolism to fight against free radicals and delay aging; SEPILIFT™ DPHP, one of the most powerful patented anti-aging ingredients in the 21st century, triggers collagen remodeling and collagen fiber contraction to deliver instant lifting and wrinkle-smoothing effects as well as excellent hydrating capability.

Diamonds Are Your Skin’s Best Friend

To add an extra dimension of luxury and effectiveness, the crème contains an extra-fine diamond powder that penetrates into the skin to stimulate skin cell renewal, revealing glowing, younger-looking skin. In keeping with precious minerals, 99.99 pure gold leaves improve dull skin and promote skin metabolism to fight against free radicals.

And for enhanced results and absorption of these amazing ingredients, the DIAMBEAUTÉ Crème comes with its own applicator tool. To use, you scoop cream onto the spatula of the massager tool. Place the cream on the palm of your hand, and dot it on the 5 points of the face – cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. Using the ball-shaped end of the massager tool, gently massage your cheeks in circular motions. It helps warm up your skin and allow faster absorption of the formula. You start from the center of the forehead, draw small circles in an outward movement and lightly press the cream into skin. Draw circles on the lower cheeks slowly in an outward movement towards the ears. Press the cream along the jaw line gently upward towards the ears. Finally, gently massage eyes and nose areas by drawing small circles. 

DIAMBEAUTÉ Supreme Refining Crème

The Secret Is Out... 

And there you have it, the simple, beautiful way to give your skin everything it needs and that gorgeous, effortless beauty that comes with exquisite skin, no matter what age!

Best Skincare For Festival

- by Brenda Chan -

Festival season is just around the corner, and you’ve already picked out your party dresses, clutches and sparkly heels! But wait a minute, we would like to go back to basics and consider the best skincare for festivals – whether you want to create the perfect base for a gorgeous makeup look or just keep your skin glowing and healthy. Here are 5 top skincare tips and products to keep in mind when you’re getting ready for your X’mas and New Year nights out. 

1. Keep Your Skin Cleansed

Cleansing your skin for a long night out is always key. You want to keep it clean, soft and nourished before you apply makeup, otherwise it will look really dull. Try Sensai Silky Purifying Cleansing Oil. Sensai is a prestigious anti-aging Japanese skincare brand that combines advanced skincare technology with its supreme signature ingredient, Koishimaru Silk, which creates flawlessly silky skin. This rich and smooth cleansing oil effectively removes makeup and sebum, retaining skin’s natural moisture and leaving it refreshed. Suitable for all skin types. 

Sensai Silky Purifying Cleansing Oil (For All Skin Types)

2. Wipes Are A Festival Staple

Too tired to remove your makeup after partying all night long? You can crawl into bed without harming your skin. Just reach for a pack of this works “in transit no traces” for a quick-fix cleanse. Containing anti-aging Rosewater, anti-inflammatory Sweet Almond Oil and balancing anti-bacterial Water, it effectively removes all traces of makeup with gentle massage movement. This natural makeup wipe pads are free of synthetic colors, synthetic fragrance and parabens.

thisworks in transit no traces (For Sensitive Skin)

3. Silky Soft Skin

Who doesn’t love baby-soft, silky skin? It’s a beauty trend that never fades, and festival season is the perfect time to get young, perfect skin for yourself. You will love Sensai Cellular Performance Lotion II (Moist). This rich, silky lotion is infused with Hydrolyzed Silk to refine skin texture. It helps delay aging and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin in its best condition for subsequent treatment.

Sensai Cellular Performance Lotion II (Moist) (For Normal-to-Dry and Very Dry Skin)

4. Get Your Glow On

Having glowing, radiant skin is a great boost to your confidence, and it makes you look much more charming in a party. Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Serum can help you achieve glowing, flawless and clear skin. Offering 24-hour moisture, this fast-absorbing fluid intensely hydrates and retains moisture for a healthy-looking, glowing complexion. It is infused with Hyaluronic Acid to maintain moisture, Rosewater to soothe and Rose Flower Oil to nourish skin.

FreshRose Deep Hydration Face Serum 

5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Late nights, dancing and alcohol – all these things can add up and make your skin look dull and dehydrated. To keep your complexion looking hydrated and refreshed during festive events, it’s important to choose an effective moisturizer. Try Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Nourishing Moisturizer. Contains patented anti-aging Olive Polyphenols and Neuropeptides, this velvety-rich cream delivers essential moisture to skin, improves skin’s firmness and tone, and boosts supple-looking skin. It is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and dermatologist-tested.

Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Nourishing Moisturizer

Follow the above skincare tips and products to keep you looking and feeling fresh whilst having fun this festive season! 

Hairin’ Around For The Festive Season!

- by Caroline Hastings-Brown -

With the festive season and the holidays in full swing, we can often find ourselves in a social whirlwind, office parties, cocktail parties, end-of-year celebrations of all sorts abound. Going to a hair salon every day is not a great option for most of us, both from a time and a money perspective. However, few things boost your confidence and your look than having great hair, all day, every day.
It's actually really easy to do great hairstyles on your own, at home. There are styles for every length you can imagine, and all you need is a little time and skill to turn up with gorgeous hair at every occasion!

One of the absolute classics is a simple French Roll updo. This style suits hair lengths that are anything from chin length to medium length hair. It’s timeless, stylish, and elegant and also suits most necklines. The quickest way to shout ‘chic’ with your hairdo! All you need is some bobby pins and a light hairspray to hold.

• To start, sweep your hair to one side. It is easiest to sweep to the left if you are right handed and to the right of you are left handed. Slip in some booby pins vertically, from the nape of your neck to close to your crown. Finish off by inserting the last bobby pin downwards.
• Gather the hair in one hand and twist tightly, pulling upwards.
• Insert bobby pins horizontally into the base of the twist, intersecting with the vertical pins to hold the style, and continue upward.
• For a sleek look, tuck the ends in and secure with bobby pins. For a messier, more casual, undone look, let the ends fall freely. Spray hair lightly to hold the style.

For a great hairspray that has good hold, use Amika Touchable Hairspray. The residue-free formula provides superior humidity resistance (yay, no more frizz) and Sea Buckthorn Berry extract enhances shine for an ultra-glossy finish.

Amika Touchable Hairspray

The lace-braided updo is a romantic, whimsical look that is great for anything from shoulder length to very long hair.

• Part your hair in two down the back. Start on one side with three strands and start plaiting. The difference is that you add hair to the lower strand only as you go. When there is no more hair to add, finish with a traditional three-strand braid and secure the braid with a small elastic.
• Repeat on the other side, creating another lace braid that hugs the side of your head and ends in a three-strand braid.
• Cross the braids at the nape of the neck.
• Hide the ends under the lace braids and secure with bobby pins. If your hair is really long, fold it in two before you bobby pin it under the lace braid.

Hollywood waves and voluminous curls are always a glamourous look, but styling with heat all the time to get the look right can leave you hair damaged and dull. Luckily, there is a better way to get that bouncing volume, and it doesn’t use heat, or even electricity! It is good old-fashioned ‘Rag Roll’ curls.

• The best way to start out is to throw in some mousse while your hair is still damp and then blow or air dry until more or less dry.
• Next, you should have some cloth strips on hand, each about four or five inches long. I find around 12 gives my whole head some major curls.
• You grab your first section of hair, place the piece of cloth at the bottom of your strands and start rolling up as best you can. Initially, it’s a bit difficult to get the ends of your hair to curl into the roll, but just keep trying, tuck them in and roll to the top.
• Next, you want to tie the strip rather tightly (no double knots or anything though). You want them to stay while you asleep, but you don’t want it to be a big mission to get them out either.
• This is the tough part – climb into bed and snooze peacefully throughout the night.
• Undo the rags and your hair will tumble down in curls.
• For major volume, just comb your fingers through so loosen curls. For a sleek, classic look, brush though the curls. A spray or two of your hairspray and you are done!

Mix it up and enjoy these awesome, easy, glamourous party looks!

Why You Should Wear Sunscreen In Winter?

--by Kylie Tang--

In winter, the sunlight is so mild and comforting, and you’ve stored your sunscreen in the farthest corner of your makeup drawer. If this sounds all too similar, you’d better get rid of this practice.

There’s something that exists in our environment every second and in each season – whether it be summer or winter. And that’s ultraviolet rays (UV) - our all-time enemies. You may have seen this photo before: a 66-year old truck driver spent his days delivering goods and his left face looked old and wrinkled because of the ultraviolet rays transmitted through the window glass, but his face still looked young and fine…

In winter, the ozone layer is at its thinnest, and UV rays penetrate it easily. At the same time, because of the cold weather, our skin metabolism slows down, and our skin becomes more difficult to repair itself after exposure to the sun. So, always wear sunscreen in winter! How much do you know about sunscreen? Read about the tips for choosing sunscreen below and pick a sun protection product that is suitable for you.

How To Distinguish UVA And UVB?

It’s not that hard actually. Ultraviolet rays consist of UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC are completely absorbed by the ozone layer. UVA can lead to aging problems and pigmentation on your skin. UVB thickens keratin, resulting in red, painful and dry skin. You will be smart enough to purchase a sunscreen that protects skin against UVA and UVB.

What Is SPF?

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is the measuring unit of a sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB.

SPF15 filters out 93.3% UVB, prevents reddening 15 time longer

SPF30 filters out 96.6% UVB, prevents reddening 30 time longer

SPF50 filters out 98% UVB, prevents reddening 50 time longer

See! Although SPF30 is double of SPF15, they only differ by 3.3% in terms of UVB blocking result. Therefore, you do not necessarily have to use sunscreens with a higher SPF. 

UVB can cause sunburn.

And How About “PA+”?

“PA” is also easy to understand. The PA 4-levelled Protection system is introduced by the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association to measure UVA protection. All ladies dislike color spots. It’s better to have a sunscreen with more “+” signs for higher protection, ideally one with SPF50 / PA++++ for outdoor activities.

For more information, please see here: https://www.badgerbalm.com/s-31-broad-spectrum-uva-sunscreen-protection.aspx 

UVA leads to what we hate – stains and spots!

Look For “Broad Spectrum” Sunscreen

Inspired by the US, Broad Spectrum sun blocks filter UVA rays that age us and other actinic damages.

So now you are clearer with these labels. You need higher protection for outdoor activities, and SPF15 to SPF30 is good enough for your indoor work (protects against lighting and sunlight transmitted through window glass.) Look for your ideal sun block:

Low SPF But Highly Protective Sunscreen

SK-II Cellumination Essence Day Surge UV SPF 30 PA+++

If you have tried SK-II products before, you must have known about their Cellumination Essence Day Surge UV SPF30 / PA+++. It’s good enough to tackle your daily UVA and UVB enemies. “Aura Bright Cocktail D” complex helps restrain melanin and repair skin after sun exposure. It’s perfect for your whitening need.

SkinCeuticals Brighening UV Defense SPF 30 High Protection

SkinCeuticals deserves to be the leading medical brand with its outstanding sunscreen products. SkinCeuticals Brightening UV Defense SPF 30 High Protection offers high broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays of various wavelengths. HyperBright Complex helps correct skin conditions and pigmentation. Use every day and during winter!

Mineral Sunscreen Is My Favourite

Have you ever heard of mineral sunscreens? Most of the sun blocks are formulated with chemical UV absorbers yet mineral sunscreens add a layer of UV-filtering powder on face with Titanium dioxide and Zinc oxide. The higher the content they are in the cream, the higher protection you enjoy. Mineral sunscreens are offered by many skincare brands recommended by dermatologists. One of my favourites is:

Lavera Sun Cream SPF 30

Don’t look down on the inexpensive Lavera. It is an organic brand and this 100% minieral-based sun protection works on skin affected by rashes, eczema, inflammations and acne. Free of perfume, dyes and synthetic preservatives, and it offers UVA protection. It’s even safe for kids’ skin!

How To Defend Sunlight While Wearing Makeup?

Many products have combined the functions of makeup and UV protection. 

Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF35 / PA+++

Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF35 / PA+++ has excellent UV defense function. I am sure you want a beautiful and UV-protected foundation finish.

Guerlain Blanc De Perle White P.E.A.R.L. UV Base Lightening UV Base SPF 30 / PA+++

Guerlain Blanc De Perle White P.E.A.R.L. UV Base Lightening UV Base has good sun block property (SPF 30 / PA+++). This elegant base cream helps create a fresh and radiant complexion with simple application before foundation, and demonstrates high-level UV protection and 8-hour rosy effect.  

Well...did you just take out your sunscreens and study how do they work? I recommend all ladies here to be cautious to sunlight in winter and apply protection measures according to your skin type and needs. Don’t forget to remove it before sleep: you need makeup removers for high SPF sunscreens, cleansers for light sunscreens and water for some of the mineral sunscreens!

Swiss La Mauve Lifting Primer Serum Review

- by Caroline Hastings-Brown -

Denise discusses the incredible benefits of using the cutting-edge Swiss beauty brand La Mauve’s serum primer. From the gorgeous, premium packaging to the very visible moisturising and ‘lifting’ benefits, the serum restores youthful radiance using:

• SEPILIFT™ DPHP, a patented anti-aging ingredient that triggers collagen remodeling for instant lifting and firming, smoothing different kinds of fine lines.
• Snow Algae Powder - able to survive the extreme conditions of alpine and polar snow fields, this ingredient improves cellular defenses, cell detoxification and repair, reducing dark spots and reinforcing the skin barrier for a younger, smoother look.
• Swiss Alps Lipobelle Glacier delivers incomparable and long-lasting hydrating effect, protecting skin against heat-stress effects and providing 24 hour hydration.
• Oligo-HA is a hyaluronic acid that promotes blood circulation, improves skin metabolism, smoothes wrinkles effectively and increases skin elasticity.
• Fucogel forms a bio elastic film on the skin, bringing ultimate moisture and softness to the skin as well as a pleasant sensation.

Product Mentioned: 

La Mauve Lifting Primer Serum