SEPHORA STOCKPILE

It was Kristmas Christmas time here at Kris' Kritique Boutique, so I made my way to Sephora with gift card in hand and here are some items that will be up for reviewing in the following days.... Stay Tuned!

BATTLE OF THE BLEMISHES

A few weeks ago I ran out of my tried and true Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. I happened to be at Sephora and saw a similar product by Kate Somerville so I thought why not.

Lets see who came out on top.......

Claims

Mario:

The Drying Lotion is a fast acting, effective acne spot treatment. Formulated with salicylic acid, calamine and other quick-drying ingredients, this product will shrink ugly whiteheads virtually overnight while you sleep. While other acne spot treatments can irritate and dry delicate or sensitive skin, this product is safe and effective for all skin types. 

Ingredients: Isopropyl Alcohol,Deionized Water (Aqua), Calamine, Camphor, Colloidal Sulfur, Salicylic Acid,Glycerine, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Talc

Kate :

EradiKate Acne Treatment is a fast-acting, on-the-spot treatment that helps to clear up pimples and significantly reduce associated redness. This powerful formula quickly calms flare-ups and is specially formulated to prevent future breakouts.

Ingredients: Sulfur, Isopropyl Alcohol, Water, Camphor, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Salicylic Acid, Iron Oxides (Cl 77489, Cl 77491, Cl77492, Cl 77499), Zinc Oxide (Cl 77947).

The Verdict:

While both products contain acne fighting ingredients (Sulfur, Salicylic Acid) Mario's drying lotion just plane works better... Kate's version flakes off almost immediately  after drying. Night after night I would give it another try, and I would wake up to pink flakes everywhere and my eyes would be irritated. It wouldn't stay on the skin let alone a blemish. While Mario, on the other hand would stay put where I placed it. Mario Badescu is cheaper and comes in at $17 for a 1oz vile. Kate Somerville goes for $22 same 1oz vile. Save the few dollars and go with Mr. Mario Badescu. Your wallet and pesky blemish will thank you......

ESTEE LAUDER IDEALIST EVEN SKINTONE ILLUMINATOR

I feel that there's a new trend in skincare. It seems that there's a huge allotment of products claiming to even & whiten your skin and take it to a new level of clarity. We may have gotten rid of the blemishes that once plagued us before, and were are no longer satisfied with having just "clear" skin. After getting over a breakout you may have been left with a tale-tale sign of zits past and are seeking a way lighten the aftermath. Over in the Asian markets these products have been staples in many skincare routines and America seems to have finally caught on.

Estee Lauder introduces Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator. "The first fast-acting Serum from Estée Lauder Research proven to dramatically reduce the look of uneven skintone: redness, acne marks, dark spots, sun spots and discolorations. SOUNDS FANTASTIC!!! Count me in! Anything claiming to give you a more even skintone I'm all about. I purchased this products from EsteeLauder.com. At the time they had an AMAZING free gift with purchase so I couldn't refuse.


The serum has a slight citrus scent to it and absorbs quickly into the skin. It has a pearlescent shimmer what looks quite nice and isn't overly sparkly. I had a nice little post acne red mark and I can say that after using it for 3 weeks it has indeed faded significantly. When using ANY skin lightener weather over the counter or prescription you should always use some sort of sun protection. Estee Lauder states you will see the full benefits by week 12. I also feel that after you achieved your results you can continue to use the products for its cosmetic effects and glow factor it gives to the complexion. Another winner in my book blog for Mrs. Lauder.

Rated: *  *  *  *  

• Pros: Instant gratification, give the skin a nice subtle glow, absorbs quickly
• Cons: someone with seriously uneven skintone or darker complexions may not see result and may need to look into prescription skin lighteners

BOSCIA RESTORATIVE NIGHT CREAM

Here we have yet another AMAZING moisturizer from Boscia. Right off the bat it earns points for having a airless pump. It keeps the product "factory fresh" and all the goodies inside stable much much longer then a ordinary jar cream. I wish other brands would switch to this type of delivery system. Also your not dipping your dirty little hands in it day in and day out. The night cream is not heavy and feels great on the skin. It's packed with tons of antioxidants and ingredients to soothe skin. I like to use the cream when I finish shaving, as my skin can be dry and irritated, and this Boscia treat seems to calm everything down.  If your skincare budget can afford it I think it would be a great addition to a nighttime skin care routine

Rated: *  *  *  *  

• Pros: Soothing night cream, not heavy, ingredients shown to calm irritated skin. Great option for dry skin!
• Cons: Somewhat expensive. 1oz jar runs $48

MARIO BADECUE CERMIDE EYE GEL

Normally I enjoy products from Mario Badescu, but this eye gel isnt one of their all stars. I was in the market looking for a eye gel. Having acne prone skin, its better to use a lightweight gel then a heavy eye cream like most that are on the market today. The retail price was $18 so I couldn't pass it up. 

I applied the gel after my cleansing and toning steps. I noticed the texture was somewhat "slimy" for the lack of a better work. A little goes a long way. I gently padded the gel under my eyes and on my eyelids. I then went to watch tv and after the show was over I notice that the gel had not soaked into my skin. Like it was left just sitting there on top. I looked in the mirror and it looked like I had chicken grease under my eyes!! I left it alone thinking that when I woke up the next morning the product would have been absorbed. Unfortunately it looked the same as the night before.. My eyes were still all greasy. This product would just not absorb into my skin!! I think someone who has EXTREMELY dry skin might benefit from this eye gel, it's just not for me.

Rated: *  *  1/2

• Pros: Inexpensive 
• Cons: WOULD NOT absorb into skin, left a greasy look to the eyes.

ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR

As I find myself reaching ever so closely to the big 3 0 (currently I'm 26) I feel its time, do I dare even say it.... begin a "anti-aging" skin care routine! A friend of mine who currently works for the prestigious & high end department store staple Estee Lauder introduced me to Advanced Night Repair Serum.

Lauder bills this as "The one formula beautiful skin can't live without", and "Neutralizes up to 90% of environmentally generated free radicals before they can affect skin's appearance." The serum has a light peachy golden tone and feels fantastic when applied to your skin.. Less is more with this product as you don't need a lot to cover the whole face and neck. If you use too much you may experience a slight tacky finish which may be less then desirable. When I applied the serum my first night it soaked into my skin quickly and left a subtle "glow", and my face was extremely soft and SMOOTH! The next morning when I woke up I felt my face, and it was STILL utterly moist and smooth. Even my boyfriend could attest to the silky texture of my skin. The "active" ingredient the ANR line is Bifida Ferment Lysate which is a kinda of bacteria that has shown DNA repairing properties. Lancome also uses it in there "Genifique" line too. After three weeks I noticed a decrease in my pore size, skin texture seems to be more even, and some minor scaring from old acne blemishes seem to be fading quickly. All in all I'm very pleased with my purchase of Advanced Night Repair, time will tell if it's truly helping my genes remain young and worth the prince tag.

Rated: *  *  *  *  *

• Pros: This serum did NOT break me out, has a luxurious feel, smooths texture of the skin, pore size decreased
• Cons: EXPENSIVE! A 1oz size will set you back $49.50