14 December 2011

Ellis Faas | Winter 2011 Gift Set | Review + Photos


Last week I introduced you to the Ellis Faas Winter 2011 set for this holiday season. With Christmas right around the corner I thought this set would be the perfect gift or stocking stuffer! Ellis Faas combined a gift set of three of their best-selling products. With this set you can create multiple looks; blood-red lips, smoky eyes and light fresh accents. 


I'm truly a fan of the packaging of these products. They come in cool bullet shaped pen-like tubes with brushes at the tips and an adjustable twist dispenser for the right amount of technique and  precision.



 [ L-R : E209 Milky Eyes, E103 Black Creamy Eyes & L201 Red Milky Lips ]



[ Swatches ]


 Below are photos of the look I decided to create. I started to initially do a smokey eye but I went with a nude to emphasize each color in the set. The E209 Milky Eyes is a beige hue and much more pale than it appears because I swept a tinted translucent powder on top of the eyeshadow to tone it down a bit and give it a true nude look against my skin tone. I also used the E103 Creamy Eyes in black as a liner to make the look more dramatic.



Glow: I really love the consistency of both the Milky and Creamy Eyes eyeshadows. They go on super smooth and once they dry you are literally set for the day because these babies don't budge! Because of its  color, the E209 Milky Eyes can also be used as a great base or primer for eyeshadow. I have oily skin and eyelids and I noticed that the shadow stayed in place for the majority of the day.  The black E103 Creamy Eyes shadow comes out as a cream but sort of dries as a matte color and I really love the versatility of being able to wear it as a smoky eye or as an eyeliner. It's no secret that I adore all of Ellis Faas' lip colors and this one is no different. The L201 Milky Lips is the perfect red, it's deep, sultry and really sexy! The formula is really rich so you have the option of using a lot or a little for your perfect look.

Glare: The only con for me is that I wish a more gold or bronzy color would've come with the set other than the lighter eyeshadow which was the E209 Milky Eyes. While the shadow looks ok paired with a powder on top, it's a little too pale for my skin tone to wear alone.

Would I Recommend It? Yes! Ellis Faas just doesn't disappoint. Really rich and intense colors paired with the stamina to last you throughout the day and an innovative and sleek design that is unique and like no other. Overall, I truly like the combination of the holiday set and it would make a great stocking stuffer for the woman who loves makeup!  

Where To Buy: The Ellis Faas Winter 2011 Gift Set retails for $85 and is currently available. To purchase or to learn more please visit www.ellisfaas.com .


Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here
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27 January 2011

Kate Somerville | ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment | Review + Photos


Kate Somerville is the creator and director of Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts, which is a renowned medi-skin clinic in Los Angeles. The Kate Somerville skincare line is a complete collection of products aimed to focus on restoring the health of all skin types and various skin conditions.

ExfoliKate " Intensive Exfoliating Treatment " is one of Kate's most admired and best selling products to date. Using a dual action exfoliation method, ExfoliKate treatment works both physically and enzymatically to deliver safe, dramatic results instantly.


Ingredients: Water Lactic Acid, Polyethylene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Pectin, Carica Papaya Fruit, Lactobacillus/Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Ferment Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Papain, Bromelain, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Beta Carotene, Honey, Acetic Acid, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Aniba Rosaedora(Rosewood) Wood Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Salicylic Acid, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cinnamaldehyde, Potassium Sorbate, Ethanol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben.

It's Green !! 

And the smell is reminiscent of an herbal grassy meadow. It's very pleasant. 


The directions instruct you to apply a thin even layer to dampened skin and to spread using a circular motion for about 30 seconds. Then you should leave it on for a maximum of 2 minutes and rinse.




Glow: Whew! Ok, I don't even know where to begin. I'll just start by saying that I've tried a LOT of skincare products over the years and NONE have even come close in comparison to this one. The product in this small tube packs a powerful punch and the surreal part is that I could tell a noticeable difference in my skin after just one use. While applying the exfoliant for the first time I noticed the small grainy like texture of the product. I have extremely sensitive skin and this was very gentle. It's basically like a cleanser/scrub all in one. After rinsing off the exfoliant I used a liquid facial soap also formulated for sensitive skin to remove whatever residue was left from the scrub then I applied a light lotion. I could immediately tell a huge difference. My pores appeared smaller, my complexion looked brighter and my skin was SOOOO smooth! I've only used this product a total of 4 times within a 2 week period and that's one of the main things that I love about it, you only need to use it about twice a week and the results are still breathtaking! I literally can't stop looking at and touching my face, I feel like I have NEW skin lol.

Glare: Well I have to state the obvious. The price could definitely be an eyebrow raiser to those who are skeptical about dishing out $85 for an exfoliant. At only 2oz the tube is fairly small. The largest size they offer is a 5oz " luxury size"which retails for $175 ( ouch ) But with all honesty, I think it's REALLY worth it. I can only base my opinion from my personal experience, as to everyones skin is different and reacts differently. It's worked wonders for me and in such a short amount of time, which is why i'm completely sold. Even though it's small, the consistency of the product is really rich & plentiful so you really don't need to use a whole lot of it and at the rate i'm going I could definitely see it lasting for at least 2 months if not more. Also, the first time I used the exfoliant there was a slight tingle but it went away with my follow up uses and it did not irritate my skin at all.

Would I Recommend It? Yes! I've already recommended it to my sister, my mother & my bff! My sister told me that she can definitely see a difference, I have super oily skin and she noticed that my complexion looked radiant and oil free! One of the most favorable compliments I've received since using Exfolikate completely caught me off guard. I was at a local drug store and I asked for someone's opinion about a foundation shade that I wanted to try and she asked me what kind of makeup was I currently wearing. I kindly informed her that I wasn't wearing any makeup and she surprisingly drops her mouth open and says " You're not wearing any makeup? Are you serious ? You have gorgeous skin! ". Needless to say that I was gleaming from ear to ear :o) That's truly one of the best compliments that anyone can EVER give me! I ended up putting that foundation right back on the shelf lol. I mean who really needs makeup when you've found the key to having glowing, radiant and healthy skin!

Overall Glam: Bottom line, it works! And it really boils down to whether or not you're willing to spend a little bit extra to get the maximum results that you deserve. I could go on & on about how much I've fallen in love with this scrub but I think everyone owes it to themselves to at least give it a try once. You get the luxuries of a spa experience at home, right at your fingertips. Kate Somerville's skincare line is conveniently available at Sephora! I'll definitely be checking out the selection the next time I make a trip there.

**To purchase or to learn more about Kate Somerville please visit www.katesomerville.com .

Have you you tried ExfoliKate or any other products by Kate Somerville before ? Did you love them ? Let me know your experiences with the products.

Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here
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