Elysée Cosmetics "Fab 5" Core Essentials Kit Initial Review

Elysée "Fab 5" Core Essentials Kit Initial Review

The "Fab 5"

I had wanted for quite some time to try a product from Elysée. During one of my late night HSN TV Shopping Extravaganza's, Elysée came on and I was instantly captivated! There right in front of me was all the products I had wanted to try, and oh how easy HSN makes it to buy with just the click of the remote! Now they had on the President of Elysée on and she had put together what she called the "Fab 5" Core Essentials Kit of their product line. I thought what better time to try the line, than with a kit put together by the President of their "Fab 5" products.

A Little about Elysée

Elysée believes that age is a fact of life and that truly healthy and lovely skin is a reality no matter what age you are. That you can intensify the look of youth with tomorrow's technology today. This really seems like an amazing company.  I would highly recommend checking out their website to learn more about them.

I will be using all of the products in the "Fab 5" kit for all of March. I will do an update mid march and than a final review at the end of March. I have been using the products now since March 1st, but did not want to start my initial review until I had at least four days of usage to see how my skin was going to react. There is no since on blogging on something I am not going to use or possibly recommend for someone else.

The Elysée "Fab 5" Core Essentials features five of their most technologically-advanced beauty treatment products to combat free radical damage, firm the skin, address lines and wrinkles, in addition to helping prolong the vitality of the skin and the look of youth through topical Sirtuin and Telomere technology.

Here is the Skinny on the "Fab 5" Core Essentials Kit including what it included, information from the insert that it came with, and my thoughts on the kit so far:

1.) Fountain of Youth™ - Soothing Line Diminishing Gel - Smoothes the Look of Lines & Wrinkles

Elysée developed this to counteract the appearance of expression lines. Those annoying little lines that we will all get eventually get as we age. Once our skin becomes less elastic and does not bounce back into place as it did when you were young. The key ingredients in this Gel is Argireline® and Matrixyl®.  Elysée was one of the first U.S. companies to use Argireline®, an ingredient that is a combination of six naturally occurring amino acids.

Matrixyl® was shown in a double blind study to be an effective alternative to retinol with less irritation potential. How Amazing is that?? Formulated in a hyaluronic-acid base, this lightweight gel is for those who want to have smooth younger looking skin while helping to diminish lines.

It states that this product does not deliver immediate results but is worth the wait!  I can wait!

Product goes on a bit sticky like a gel but goes away quickly!
Also, be careful not to get in your eyes!

I have been applying a light layer of this gel to my face and neck before a serum every morning and evening. Now it is specifically formulated for those concerned with deep wrinkles and lines. Now obviously being as a young as I am, I do not have deep lines and wrinkles. I have just begun to see lines these past couple of years. But as I always say, I strongly believe in starting early and being proactive.

YouthSpan™ - Facial Resurrection Serum - Features Topical Telomere & Sirtuin Technology

Elysée developed this serum to battle against aged trouble zones with a state of the art science based complex. The serum was formulated to optimize the longevity of youthful looking skin. The serum boosts moisture levels that lead to a visible improvement of the skin's surface appearance. The serum promotes facial volume through a unique lipo-filling like action, specifically for the appearance of the lip lines, nasolabial folds and the marrionette lines.

Very Fluid Like and Makeup Applies Nicely Over It!

I apply a small amount of this serum after the gel in the morning to my face and neck. I also use this serum on my decollete. Since I am still searching for something to address in that area, I am going to use this in the meantime. 

Firmance™ Pycnogenol®  Firming Serum - Antioxidant Rich Firming Concentrate

Elysée developed this Firming Serum to be a multi-action complex of antioxidants and botanicals to address the visible signs of aging. It contains the patented antioxidant Pycnogenol®, this serum helps to inhibits free radical formation helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  This benefit will lead to better elasticity and firmness.

Pycnogenol® is one of the most powerful antioxidants on the market and research has shown it to be twenty times more powerful than Vitamin C and fifty times more powerful than Vitamin E. It was shown to be dramatically more effective than Vitamin C, E, Lipoic Acid and Grapeseed.

This lightweight serum is in a Hyaluronic Acid base and is instantly absorbed into the skin. Once absorbed into the skin, it will provide an instant hydration boost to revitalize dry skin. The serum is designed to address visible sings of aging by improving the skins surface resulting in a more younger, radiant looking complexion. The complexion will appear brighter and more luminous.

With continual use of this serum, it promises to make your skin feel noticeably tighter and fine lines will be less visible.

The Serum Does Leave a Nice Radiant Glow.
I am going to switch it up one day and try it under my makeup!

Since the kit came with two serums. I have been applying this serum at night. Pycnogenol® is a pink to reddish brown very fine powder. You can see it in the serum but not at all on your face. I thought this serum might be better at night and the more fluid one during the day when I where makeup.

Fountain of Youth™ - Wrinkle Intervention Cream - Smoothes Appearance of Fine Lines & Wrinkles.

This Creme is specifically formulated for those concerned with the appearance of fatigue, characteristic furrows, and creases by helping the skin's firmness and tone. It features an exclusive peptide complex of Matrixy®l synthe'6™ and Argireline®. This treatment creme helps the skins own natural process of optimizing collagen, hyaluronic acid, fibronectin, and laminin. This optimization will lead to facial wrinkles looking smoother and to the appearance of wrinkles improving over time.

To make this creme even more powerful, they have added Chronodyn™, Revidrate™, and cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid. Cross-linked HA is 5x more powerful than normal HA in promoting moisture balance.

This creme can be applied during the day and at night. During the day, the creme responds to external factors like environmental aggressors. While at night, this creme optimizes the skin's natural rhythms.

A Little of this Goes A Long Way!

I apply a thin layer of this creme to my face and neck in the morning and at night after letting the serum sit for about five minutes. When I first compared the little amount used of this creme to the amount I used with my usual creme I had this thought; "This is not going to be enough to moisturize my skin, ugghh I am going to have that dry uncomfortable feeling all day." Boy was I wrong and wow did it moisturize. It also works great under my makeup! Another major factor when choosing my day cream.

YouthSpan™- A.G.E Control Gel Therapy Masque

This masque brings together ingredients in an age-defying complex to help address the visible signs of aging. It provides a boost of powerful antioxidants, along with other ingredients to help revitalize the look of the skin and to help fight against the appearance of aging on the skin as a result of oxidative stress.

It is formulated with a complex of cross-linked hyaluronic acid combined with an aquatic plant blend. This masque helps to improve tired, dull, lackluster skin by rehydrating the skin. It also contains vitamins, carbohydrates, and amino acids to fight the look of premature aging. It promised to make your complexion feel more hydrated, firmed, and tones, and instantly appear more youthful and resilient!

Nice Firming Mask.
Does not Make Uncomfortable Tight Feeling!

I used the masque for the first time this morning. I applied a light layer of the masque on my face and neck and applied what was left over on my hands of my decollete. I waited 15 minutes (barely even knew the masque was on, unless I thought about it) and washed it off with a warm wet cloth. My face felt soft and a bit firmer.

Final Thoughts:

This technologically driven skincare line is my dream so far! I love technology and oh how I love skin care. Combine the two and I am in heaven! I strongly believe only those who combine the two will survive in the future. Skincare technology will one day become so advanced that your normal basic hydrating moisturizer will become obsolete.

This is only my fourth day of using the line, but I am impressed. My skin does not feel dry or irritated at all. It feels soft, toned, firm and happy. My only fear is that it will work so well, that I will not know which of the products worked the best! But that can be easily fixed later on by process of elimination. I will update once I have used the line for two weeks. I feel very promising on this line. They have a Neck and Decollete Cream that I am dying to try since I am looking for a good one. I think that the kit has since sold out on HSN but they have similar kits. The products are also all available individually and don't blame me. I tweeted about it..:)

Thanks.

Sik Glam

JO HANSFORD ILLUMINOIL™ Review

JO HANSFORD LONDON ILLUMINOIL™ 

Review

As you can see, a little goes a long way!
I have had this bottle for months! Well, I am also dreading the day, its gone!

On my last trip over the Pond! I found a treasure, JO HANSFORD LONDON ILLUMINOIL™. I had read about it prior to my trip and put it on my list of "Beauty Must Haves" to purchase while I was there. Luckily for me, the Jo Hansford Salon was only a hop, skip and a jump away from where I was and I picked it up right inside the Salon. Right by the U.S. Embassy. Well being American but half British. I felt it was meant to be!!

Oh how I love it! It has now replaced the other hair oils that I had been previously using! It leaves my hair feeling soft, shiny, and smooth! Never Greasy! Exactly how I want it to feel!

Here's the skinny on it:

ILLUMINOIL™is a versatile miracle essence for all hair types.

ILLUMINOIL™ is a unique blend of rare ingredients that combine to form an exquisite oil that is one of the most luxurious and sumptuous haircare products ever formulated, 'I created ILLUMINOIL™ miracle essence for all hair types, harnessing the healing power of the world's most exotic and precious oils. Pomegranate, Argan, Karanja, Jojoba and Almond oils combine in this unique formulation to hydrate and nourish your hair, leaving it glossy and radiant'. Jo Hansford MBE

Application:

As a finishing product:
Use sparingly on dry hair to smooth the cuticles, leaving your hair soft, sleek, and shiny.

When my hair gets a bit dry, I will take a tiny amount (size of a pea) and run it through my ends and use the remainder on my hands to run through my cuticles.

Before blow drying:
Use sparingly through mid-lengths and ends to prevent frizz and aid blow drying.

This is when I use it most, I take about a pump or two at the very most and run it through my mid-lengths and than massage the bare minimum of what is left on my hands into my scalp and through the top part of my hair.

As a intensive treatment:
After shampooing, towel dry hair and apply Illuminoil to mid-lengths and ends to repair, restructure and nourish. Leave on for up to 10 minutes, rinse and condition.

I have used this in the shower or the bathtub when I am doing a hair masque and I will add a pump of this to my ends.

As an overnight scalp treatment:
To soothe and treat dry, irritated flaky scalps, gently massage Illuminoil on to scalp, combing through to distribute evenly. Leave overnight, then shampoo and condition as normal.

I have done this after coloring my hair. I don't wash my hair for at least two to three days after coloring my hair to really let it set in. So at times, that can dry out my scalp. If that should happen, I will apply this on my scalp the night before I plan on washing my hair to help any dryness.

Final Thoughts:
I love this product so much. I just wish that it was available in the U.S. If you are in London or are planning a trip there. I would definitely contact the salon to have them save you a bottle or to see where else it is stocked.

Thanks,

Sik Glam

Sigma Brush Spa Brush Cleaning Glove Review

Sigma Brush Spa 

Brush Cleaning Glove Review

I could not resist purchasing the Sigma Brush Spa, Brush Cleaning Glove after hearing about it and  reading some rave reviews. I could not wait to get my hand on it and in it.;) As much as I am obsessed with anything to do with makeup, cleaning my brushes is one of the things I dread most. So you can imagine my excitement when I came across something that not only made cleaning your brushes look fun, but also promised to make it easier and faster. At that very moment, the clouds parted and the sun began to shine down on me!

The Glove comes in the four Colors above. I chose Blue because
Blue reminds me most of a spa!

Here's the skinny on it from the box:

The Sigma Beauty Spa Glove was specifically designed as a quick, easy and effective method to deep clean you entire makeup brush collection. This revolutionary glove provides a variety of necessary textures and surfaces for removing all makeup from brushes while using only a small amount of cleaning solution. The dual-sided glove provides a complete cleaning process for both eye and face brushes. Patent pending.

The Brush has a soft insert for comfort!

If if you are right handed, and don't want to hold the brushes with your left,
I just flipped my left hand over to do my Eye Brushes and it was still so easy! 

Close up of the Face Brush 'Wash' Texture

Close up of the other side's
Eye Brush 'Wash' Texture

There are 5 Easy How-To Brush Cleaning Steps Listed right on the Box:

1.) Wash 
Add a small amount of cleaning solution & water to glove & swirl brush on the 'Wash' texture to begin deep cleaning the brush(es).

This is when you really know its working because you see the soapy water start to turn the color of makeup. I also really noticed in this first step that I used about a quarter of the amount of Brush Shampoo when I was washing than before the Glove. Fab!

2.) Rinse
Place Brush under running water & sweep brush back and forth on the 'Rinse' texture of the glove to remove makeup residue and soap.

You will see all the makeup residue and soapy water mixture rinse off as you sweep back and forth.

3.) Refine
Swirl Brush on the 'Refine' texture of the glove for added deep cleaning.

This was my favorite part. You can really get into the middle of your brushes where product can build up with theses tiny little knobs on the 'Refine'  section of the brush.

4.) Rinse
Place Brush under running water & sweep brush back and forth on the 'Rinse' texture for a final rinse.

This is where you should see the water running clear to know that you cleaned the brushes correct.

5.) Shape
Reshape brush bristles by placing brush head on the 'Shape' Section of the glove while squeezing with your hand to remove excess water.

This step was Great at getting the excess water out and reshaping my small eye brushes. I did have to do some extra reshaping of my bigger shaped brushes (angled, domed, etc,) with my hands. But this was my first time using the glove, so I am sure I will get better at it, and this extra step only took a few seconds to do.

Note: All of the Textures (Wash, Rinse, Refine, Shape) are Labeled Right on the Glove.

My Brushes Before and After:

Before!
I cleaned a variety of Face and Eye Brushes of all shapes and Sizes!

After!
Clean as a Whistle!

Even My Sponge is Squeaky Clean!

Final Thoughts:

I think the Sigma Brush Spa Brush Cleaning Glove is pure Genius! I am always looking for makeup tools that save time and energy but still live up to what is promised. Sigma Nailed It! It is everything that it promises to be and more. I wish I would have had this years ago. To think of the time and energy it would have saved me. I cleaned 21 brushes (11 face and 10 eye) and one sponge in 15 minutes. Please remember, this was my first time and I was taking my time to really get to know the Glove and all its magic! I even thought "hmmm, maybe this little bad boy can clean my pro applicator sponge", and boy did it clean it. I would highly recommend purchasing the Sigma Spa Glove, its only going to make your life easier! And who doesn't want that!

And I saved the Best for Last! You can Save 10% on the Brush through March 31st, 2013 using the code "Save2013" and there is a Free Gift Right Now with a Purchase of over $30. So you will get a Gift and Save! So click here to buy and/or to watch a tutorial on the Glove!
http://www.sigmabeauty.com

Thanks,

Sik Glam