Quest for the perfect eye cream

Hey Everyone,

For the longest time I have had a tumultuous relationship with eye-creams. I thought I'd share my experience with these products and let you know the ones that have worked out the best for me.

L-->R Nivea Aqua Sensation Anti-Shadow Eye Cream, Tebe Gentle Eye Cream, Origins Eye Doctor, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye Concentrate, Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado.

My first ever eye cream at age 16 was the the Nivea Aqua Sensation Anti-Shadow. It was perfect for my main concern at the time which was dark shadow's under my eyes. It worked well to improve these and I continued to use it until my university years when I found it was discontinued in NZ. I was devastated (maybe an exaggeration) but this meant I had to find an alternative. I tried the Clinique All About Eyes which worked okay for a month until I began to get severe eye lid eczema and this seemed to only worsen it (so much for an "allergy tested" brand). After that I used the very gentle Tebe Eye Cream which didn't do much more than provide my under eye area with some moisture. After that it was the Origins Eye Doctor. This like the Clinique worked okay until once again i developed under eye eczema. This finally led me to my two favourite eye creams to date, both by Kiehl's

Here's what I think of the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado (CETWA):

This is a superb moisturising eye cream. It comes out of the tub like any other cream (except it's avocado green);  it then emulsifies into a silky gel that in combination with warmth from the skin glides on incredibly smooth. It keeps my under eye's moisturised well overnight and throughout the day. It can be greasy if you over-apply and you only need a tiny amount. It does prevent dark circles and puffiness but it will not get rid of them. The best part about this eye cream is it wont migrate into your eye and cause irritation.



 Here's what I think of the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye Concentrate (MREC):

After using the Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado I was well impressed. About 4 months ago I started doing a Surgical Rotation which meant I was constantly sleep deprived and as a result had horrendous puffiness and dark circles under my eyes. So in my hunt for a de-puffing and anti-circle eye cream I came across reviews for the Midnight Recovery Eye. Having used the serum in this brand, (see this post: beautydoctor25.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/kiehls-midnight-recovery-concentrate.html) I had high expectations. They were all met. This is a very smooth soft cream that somehow manages to reduce puffiness and dark circles almost overnight. Like the serum, you wake up looking like you've had a restful sleep, even if you haven't! It does have a slight scent of lavender but hardly noticed once its blended into the skin.
On a side note I was reading Cosmopolitan Magazine the other day and found that this concentrate won the 2012 Cosmopolitan Beauty Award for Best Eye Cream. So clearly I'm not the only one in love.

I alternate use of the two Kiehl's eye cream at the moment. If I know I wont be getting a decent sleep, MREC comes in handy. If I'm having a sleep-in the next morning I got with the CETWA. I cant recommend Kiehl's products enough (and I promise I'm not paid to say this either)!

Fine lines are not yet a concern for me so I cannot comment on these cream's as anti-wrinkle agents; but I do think that starting use of an Eye Cream at a young age works in preventing wrinkles years later. As we know prevention is far better than cure.

Let me know what your favourite eye creams are!

xo
Beauty Doc

The Cinnamon Room in Parnell

Hey Everyone,

This is entirely a non-beauty related post. I just had to address the fact that I have found the most amazing Indian Cuisine in all of New Zealand. The Cinnamon Room only recently opened but I already anticipate the hype that there will be for this place.

Stand out dish was the entree the "Bullets" as pictured below. They are a unique and delicious deep fried vegetable finger food served with a spicy vinaigrette that I have never seen at any other Indian restaurant. What I love is the authenticity this place has, having eaten Indian food in India, I can safely say this food is LEGIT!

The location, service, presentation and quality of food is, in my view unsurpassed by any other Indian food restaurant in Auckland. Highly recommended. 

Check it out at www.thecinnamonroom.co.nz

xo

Beauty Doc

Barbie nails - OPI Shorts Story

Hey everyone,

I am not going to lie, I was a barbie fan as a little girl and so clearly barbie-pink was my favourite colour during these years.

OPI's Shorts Story is essentially the barbie-pink that i adore. Its not warm or cold, its a "neutral" pink, if that makes any sense. One coat is more than opaque and as OPI nail-polishes usually do, it lasts a number of days with no chipping.

As you can see it also matches my phone case which is no coincidence!

Will be posting about eye-creams very soon, stay tuned!

xo

Beauty Doc

Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer Review

Hi Everyone,

I know I haven't been posting very regularly lately but consider the next few posts an apology.
This review is on a product that I have been using for the last 6 months and that I hope to be using for the next 10 years.  It is the Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer with White Tea.

New pot on the left, used pot on the right!

So a little background on my skin type and previous experience with moisturisers first. For about 10 years I used one moisturiser only, that was the Nivea Face Hand and Body Creme. Occasionally I would change things up and try other drug store brands but I would always return to Nivea. The Nivea creme had served me well through high school and university keeping my skin well hydrated and plump.

However about 6 months ago I was having a particularly bad time with dry patches of skin on my cheeks as it was starting to transition into winter, so I did a little bit of research online. I found a number of positive reviews on the Perfect World White Tea Moisturizer for people with dry to combination skin. As I had previously tried an Origins eye cream I knew they were a trusted and (mostly) natural brand. So I popped into Mecca Cosmetica in New Market and bought the cream.

When I initially saw the product I thought it was odd that it wasn't white like all the other moisturisers I had used before. But I disregarded this quickly and applied it. It went on smoothly and while initially leaving a dewey tinge to the skin, within a few minutes had completely sunk into my skin. It smelt amazing on application, but not so strong that the scent lingered.

Here's how I rate it:

• Packaging - It comes in a light green glass pot with a plastic screw on lid. Its basic and I really do  like this. I guess the only negative some people might have to say is that since its not in a squeezy tube, its not the most hygienic way of dispensing a moisturiser. I counter this by only ever using it with cleanly washed hands. Also department stores do carry small disposable plastic spatula's (very La Mer esque) that you can use if desired.
• Smell and consistency - To me this moisturiser has a very distinct citrusy smell to it; I am told that its the white tea. Either way I like it. Its a fairly thick light peach (not white) cream that sinks into skin easily.
• Performance - I cannot say enough good things about this moisturiser. After using it for about 2 weeks I noticed a definite improvement in the tone and texture of my skin. The dry patches are no longer a problem, the redness around my cheeks has improved and the most amazing thing about this moisturiser is that in 6 months, I have not had a single significant zit or breakout. The years that I had been using my Nivea creme I could almost guarantee a zit every month (around that time) but since using this cream, I haven't had any such thing. It may be that my hormones have sorted them selves out coincidentally at the same time I start using the new moisturiser, but regardless, I'm sold on this creams efficacy. Its selling point is as an antioxidant (which in the cosmetic industry, is synonymous with anti-ageing properties). I obviously can't comment on this as have only used it for 6 months, but I know that my skin has never looked younger than it does these days. I did notice while I was in Thailand and using a different moisturiser (the Vitamin E Moisturiser by The Body Shop) my skin was definitely not looking or feeling the best it could have. On return home I switched back to the Perfect World Moisturizer and there was a silent sigh of relief from my skin.
• Price - I bought mine from Mecca Cosmetica (New Market) however I believe you can order it online at www.meccacosmetica.co.nz or even nz.strawberrynet.com (when they have it in stock). It cost $NZD 77 which I think for a face cream, that does so much, is a bargain. I like to think of my skin care products as an investment towards my future skin (which is the largest organ in the body). 

Overall I rate this moisturiser a 9/10

I have always been hesitant to try new skin care products on my face due to how sensitive my skin can be (particularly with fragranced products). However this moisturiser has become my holy grail. If I were on a deserted Island and told i could only bring one product, this would be it. 

Hope this gave you some info on, in my opinion, a relatively under hyped product. let me know if you have any questions that I may not have answered. 

xo

Beauty Doc

Duty Free: YSL, MAC, Gucci

Hey everyone,

So as you know I went overseas recently. One of my favourite parts about travelling is the duty free shopping in international airports. Its amazing how much you save buying products without tax!

This time I was able to demonstrate partial self-restraint as I only had one unplanned purchase. Here's what I got:

1. Perfume: Flora by Gucci in Gorgeous Gardenia

Since my Eli Saab perfume recently finished, I was on the hunt for a new scent (although I love the Eli Saab so much that I will probably re-purchase that one too). This Gucci perfume is a heavily floral scent with top notes of red berries and pear. It is extremely feminine and so if your someone that prefers tougher muskier scents, this is not for you. Cant deny I'm looking forward to using this in the upcoming Spring months. I have been using it for a few weeks now and have to say it is severely addictive. I spray it on in the morning before work and by the time I'm home there is still a faint scent left on my scarves/coats etc which I love.

I had been tossing up between this and the new Marc Jacobs Dot Perfume. The reason this won out was because it felt a lot more sophisticated than Dot (which in all honesty reminded me of a less intense Britney Spears Fantasy). The only down side to this perfume is the packaging which is kind of boring (but practical).

Price: Duty free this was about $110 for 50mls

2. YSL Vernis a Levres (Glossy stain) in colour Rouge Gouache

This is marketed as a lip gloss that stains. It is a phenomenal colour, texture, product. I appreciate when products can multi-task. The colour if applied with 2 coats is a bright berry red-magenta however if very lightly applied and blended in well (as in the picture below) becomes an incredible rosey colour. It truly is a stain because after applying this in the morning and then going about my usual day with eating, drinking, talking etc the colour was still visible. The glossiness does wear off after a few hours but the stain that remains is preferentially more natural. I cant recommend this enough and I'm looking forward to getting the coral-orange version of this stain in the future. 

Price: Duty free was about $45

YSL Vernis a Levres in Rouge Gouache

3. YSL Faux Cils Volume Shocking

This was my impulse-buy. I saw it next to the touche-eclat I was contemplating getting and realised that I needed a new mascara more. I'm not sure what to make of this mascara and don't think I have used it enough to make a fair judgement call. It has a proper "brushy" brush (as opposed to the new plastic type brushes) which I have not yet decided if I like or not. It does do wonders for my lashes in terms of volume and delivers some length. My main issue is the heavy scent of roses it has, I can smell it on each application and I'm not going to lie, it annoys me. I haven't tried the original YSL Faux Cils so cant really compare, but from what I have heard, most people prefer the original. I'll keep you all posted on what I think of it after further use. I have to admit if I apply any more than one coat it turns into a clumpy mess!

Price: About $45 duty free

YSL Faux Cils Shocking Mascara - one coat

4. Mac Paintpot in Rubenesque

This is what Mac say is basically a cream shadow that can be used on its own or under eye-shadows to prevent creasing and intensify shadow colour. I have not yet used it under eye-shadow but have used it on its own on my eyelids. It is a gorgeous peachy gold shimmery creamy eye cream that looks great with brown (and I can imagine with blue) eyes. Its not the most opaque on its own so if your looking for intense colour I'd suggest using an eye-shadow on top. One swipe on my wrist (as in the picture below) is a good representation of the colour payoff. Again I'll let you know how it goes after further and more frequent use.

Price: Cant exactly remember but approximately $35 duty free

Rubenesque Paint Pot 

Thanks for reading everyone, I hope you enjoyed. Let me know if you would like more in-depth reviews on any of these products.

xoxo
Beauty Doc

Vacation in Phuket

I'm back everyone!

I had an incredible time in Phuket, Thailand and would definitely recommend it as a great holiday destination. Here are a few pics which don't even come close to describing the beauty in Thailand.

Specific things I recommend include:

1. Staying at Merlin Beach Resort -

The staff were super friendly and so accommodating, the facilities are equivalent to a 5 star resort and the room-maids place your towels in the shape of animals! It doesn't get any better than that!

I'd definitely recommend their spa in which I got a a full body polish + massage and manicure. My skin and muscles came out feeling amazing! And for such a reasonable price too!

The pool-bar is a definite must while visiting, its always playing great music and the staff are so fun!
http://www.merlinphuket.com/merlinbeach/index.html

2. Going on an Elephant Trekking tour -
This was probably the biggest highlight of my trip. It was a half day tour in the rain forest where you experienced Thai culture first hand AND got to ride elephants! The website for the tour is www.siamsafari.com and I highly recommend tour guide "Joy" who was an absolute pleasure to have leading us through the forest. If I ever return to Phuket I'm going on the trek again.

3. Get on a Phang Nga speedboat tour -
This was a serendipitous find. Our initial tour was cancelled due to high-tide/weather conditions and so we were on the hunt for another tour to James Bond Island. We found this tour on the Internet which turned out to be surprisingly brilliant. The weather was perfect and because we visited bay's with rock surrounding, the boats were somewhat protected from the weather anyway. They took us to secluded beaches and small lagoonas where we were able to get onto canoes to get closer looks. It was beautiful.
www.andamanspeedboat.com

4. Shop at Patong Beach/town markets -
This was certainly an experience. There were hundreds of small stalls selling (mostly) knock off designer bags, watches, sunglasses, clothes, shoes and much more. At times this was slightly overwhelming but was also very fun. The key here is to keep bartering friendly and always with a smile on your face. Don't expect exceptional quality as you do get what you pay for. The experience is worth more than any material purchase!

5. Get a Fish Spa -
Supposedly these little fish eat the dead skin and debris off your feet to leave them feeling smooth. I can't say I experienced these benefits fully because I didn't last the whole 15 minutes. To say I was grossed out would probably be an understatement. It felt like hundreds of nano sized suction pieces attaching to your feet. But if you're going to Thailand, its a definite once in a life time experience.

I cannot say enough good things about Thailand and its people. I felt so welcomed and looked after on holiday that I cannot wait to visit again. Unfortunately it's back to work and reality for now.

Stay tuned for a Duty Free shopping post with reviews on new beauty products!

xoxo
Beauty Doc

Sweetest Present

Hey Everyone,

So this isn't really beauty related but, I just had to show you all what my little brother got me for my birthday this year. Its such a thoughtful, innovative present and I absolutely love it! It was handcrafted and ordered from www.1minime.com

Last post before vacation! Bring on the beach!

xo
Beauty Doc