Byroe Skincare

I was introduced to Byroe this past Summer and it's been love . The brand calls it Superfood skincare as they use  upcycled fruits and vegetables in their formulas.

Three that  I am  loving right now are:

Truffle Eye Serum-  The Mom also signs off on this one. She just told me she's almost done hers. Ok, but I'm not giving my tube up.  The lightweight creamy serum moisturizes well with three different hyaluronic acids,  shea butter and  avocado peptides, smoothes a little and feels so silky on the eye area. It works well under makeup or at night. I use it both times of day.  It's also  the rare eye treatment that comes in a 1 oz tube  so it lasts longer and a little goes a long way , you don't need to apply a lot. 

 Pumpkin Pro Retinol Cream - One of their newer products, this uses upcycled  vitamin rich pumpkin along with   retinol derived from calendula ,  bakuchiol  and  botanical oils and extracts.  It's very  hydrating , thick ( and orange) but doesn't stay sticky or heavy on skin  and is very gentle.   It can be used day and night ,a great multi tasker to get treatment and moisture in one. The Mom was out of face cream a couple weeks ago so I gave her the remainder of my jar and while she was not sure about pumpkin before trying it, she  absolutely loves it . It's been  smoothing and hydrating but gentle and is another product where you don't need a lot .  Plus slathering on the orange tinted cream is kind of fun. 

 Kiwi Detox Gel  Cleanser- I love a good green gel cleanser and I swear even though I know cleansers aren't on your face long enough to do a  lot beyond cleanse, my skin feels smoother after using this. There's  BHA in salicylic acid, AHA in citric acid and PHA in gluconolactone in there for smoothing.  Arnica to soothe and a list of vegetable and fruits extracts inlcuding Kiwi . It's very easy on skin,  works well for oily/combo skin with no dryness / tightness.   Plus it looks and smells good . 

You can find a lot more info at the brand's site https://byroe.com/

*products provided for testing

Alpyn Beauty

While I've visited the Southwest many times I've never been to the West , but Wyoming has always been high on the list of beautiful places to see. Alpyn Beauty is based in Jackson Hole, uses the plants of the area in their skincare and is inpired by the Alpenglow  there that bathes everything in a warm pink light at Sunset.   If skincare can bring a little of that to me, I'm in.  I can visualize sitting in a field  of wildflowers, the snow capped Tetons in the distance and maybe  a moose or elk grazing across the meadow. Ok, that might be over the top but it's my story and I'm sticking to it. 

The Line Filling Eye Balm is my  top pick, but then again I am all about the eye creams. This is lightweight with  medium moisture that also smoothes and fills a little. That makes it perfect for under makeup and day wear. 

I also  really like the Creamy Bubbling Cleanser.  I also love a good cleanser and while it's something you don't really need to spend a lot on, I'm all for a more luxe one. Self care right there. This gets the makeup off, isn't drying and has a light herbal scent leaving skin feeling soft after rinsing. 

The Calming Midnight Mask is one I'm still playing with. It's got a lot of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid , sweet almond and sunflower oils, shea and mango butter, but it's lightweight.  It also has bakuchiol( my first product with this )  and melatonin.  For drier skin it might not be enough but as we move into warmer weather I think this will be great for my combo skin. It sinks in fast, leaves no sticky feeling and smells good .  Alpyn's  site does rec  using this over a moisturizer which  I am not doing so if you are drier , that would be the way to go. 

Alpyn Beauty Calming Midnight Mask is $ 68

Alpyn Beauty Line Filling Eye Balm is $ 62

Alpyn Beauty Creamy Bubbling Cleanser is $ 36 

Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water Mineral Rich Eye Cream

 

I love a good eye cream, I've said that many times. My eye area gets dry and I'm all about keeping it taken care of.  I' also a big fab of Peter Thomas Roth skincare so we've got a winner here in his new  Hungarian Thermal Water Eye Cream.

This rich cream feels luxe and soothing on the eyes , adds plenty of moisture and smoothes the area out a little  but isn't heavy or overly greasy. It's whipped feeling cream that blends in well.   I use it mainly at  night but The Mom has swiped the jar and she uses it am and pm and finds it works nicely under makeup too.  She appreciate a good eye cream too. 

 Ingredients include caffeine, ceramides, micro algae , sea buckthorn berry and  arnica flower extracts, sunflower, linseed and evening primrose oils. 

PTR has done it again , this is worthy addition to your skincare routine. 

Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water  Mineral Rich Eye Cream is $ 46 at Peter Thomas Roth.com and Macys. 

Mamonde Floral Hydro Eye Gel Cream

A lighter weight cream feels so much better in Summer than something heavy. I usually put the winter skincare aside once it gets hot for something a little more fresh and light.

Mamonde's  Floral Eye Gel Cream fits the bill as it's light with an almost water burst feel.  Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid provide the  moisture and it also has the flower essence of Narcissus.  It's  very refreshing on the eye area and adds light hydration . It takes a little time to sink in but not too long and works well under makeup.   That makes it a great daytime cream but the refreshing feel is nice after  along hot day so it's good for nightime too. 

So while this may not be the best pick when it's 20 degrees outside ,when it's  85 degrees it's  spot on adding some firming as well.

This was my first time using anything from this K Beauty brand  and I'm looking forward to trying more.  It's worth noting, too, that it's certified Vegan. 

You can find the line at Ulta and Mamonde's website for $ 32 

L'Oreal Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Honey Balm & Honey Eye Gel

L'Oreal went to the hive for the newest skincare .

Age Perfect All Over Balm & Honey Eye Gel both use the ingredient to add some moisture along with calcium and antioxidants to help soothe and soften skin.

All Over Balm reminds me some of their Golden Balm line from years ago. There was a fab eye cream that sadly was dc'd.  This new balm is meant to be used anywhere you need some heavy duty moisture. Elbows, face , hands/knuckles, etc. It's thick , hydrating with shea butter, beeswax , apricot kernal and sunflower seed oils.  The fragrance is lightly floral with a little honey. I really like this and will be using it a lot now that cooler weather is coming. I also love that it's easily found at any drugstore . ( $ 24.99)

Honey Eye Gel has a neat triple rollerball to smooth over eyes . The gel is thin and adds light moisture with a slight firming/tightening feel. That makes it  a nice pick for day but the cooling feel of the rollerballs is welcome after a long day. This does have alcohol denat. in the ingredients ,I wish it didn't but I still like it overall. Coconut and jojoba seed oil along with glycerin add the moisturizing. ( $ 24.99)

Also part of the line is Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Nourishing Moisturizer which has a new look and the addition of honey . It's a nice thick, super creamy , highly moisturizing rich cream for day or night.

Murad Revitalixir Recovery Serum

I think most of us would say we are stressed.  Big things weigh us down with worry, I know it does me. We just have to keep our chins up and move forward and not sweat the small stuff.  At least that's what  I try to do.

Stress takes a toll on us , that we know both inside and out. It releases more cortisol and hormones.  Our skin can be damaged by stress and it can show. Who has ever said after a crying jag, wow I look good right now ?

Murad, makers of some great skincare, have a new serum to address  stressed skin.  New Revitalixir Recovery Serum  is a lightweight and is for both  face AND eyes.  Multitasking skincare? I like that.

The serum has  oil based spheres  suspended in a water based gel. It  uses caffeine, wild indigo , niacinanide, neuropeptides , paracress cannabis ( hemp seed oil), apricot kernal seed oil  and hyaluronic acid to soothe weary skin  and is said to work on expression lines, dehydration and dullness and dark circles.

This is nicely moisturizing but not heavy. It feels light on and sinks in quickly. For my skin it's enough on it's own right now. I'm combo and don't need a lot of moisture. I need some, and this is just enough. Anyone dry, might need a  cream to layer over it .  I've found it's kept my skin well hydrated, soothed  and looking healthy and brightened.

There is a light grape/wine like fragrance that I like. It's not strong but there.

Murad Revitalixir Recovery Serum is $ 89  at www.murad.com , sephora and more.

Malie Organics Botany Beauty Skincare

Kauai, Hawaii based Malie Organics uses organic and plant based ingredients including essential oils and botanicals for natural effective , fragrance free skincare . I've been testing some out and am coming away impressed. 

The Illuminating Moisturizer is a nice lightweight choice for day . With aloe vera juice, coconut oil , apricot kernal oil and and pineapple  and papaya extracts , it adds enough of a moisture boost to my combo skin and helps  keep skin more matte over the day.  It also adds radiance ,  something we all need in the AM. You can see a little mica like particles in the bottle but once rubbed in , they are barely there. You don't see any shimmer or shine but  skin looks brighter. The fruit extracts will help to brighten skin over time also.

I like this a lot as I don't want anything heavy in the day. It's just right and works great under my makeup. I don't feel like I have anything on my skin but at the same time it feels hydrated and soft. ( $ 46)

The Luxe Eye Cream  is also lightweight but plenty moisturizing with hyaluronic acid , aloe juice , cocoa butter, coconut, jojoba, evening primrose and sunflower seed oils . It's creamy, smoothes in easily and  feels nice on the eye area without being tacky or heavy.  There's a slight sensation of firming and Malie says it helps puffiness as well, which thankfully I don't have much of .   Other ingredients include alpha hydroxy acids , vitamins C , B5 and CoQ10, cucumber , and peptides. The texture here also means like the moisturizer it works nicely under makeup for day and at night. ( $ 48)

Lastly Hydrosol Facial Tonic instantly transports you to the tropics with a spritz. Facial sprays are unsung heroes  I think. I don't use them often enough but when I do , I love the burst of scent , uplift and refreshing feel. Malie's uses 100% pure rose and jasmine hydrosols and it smells great. This can be used on face and in hair to tame frizz. ( $ 45)

I'll say too, that I love that the line comes in glass containers. Yes they are easier to break , but glass is just nicer , more upscale and well better than  plastic in my opinion. Ok it lets light in true enough , but these bottles are semi opaque .

Malie Organics  has a full skin care line including my picks and you can find it all at  www.malie.com  . They don't use  petroleum, mineral spirits, sulfates or parabens or ever test on animals or use animal products. 

Peter Thomas Roth Potent C Power Eye Cream

I am a big fan of Peter Thomas Roth's serum and face creams. Their Camu Camu  Power C line and Potent C Power Serum have been fabulous for my skin. This Summer Potent C Power Eye Cream came on board. 

This mid weight cream packs 10 % C THD  Ascorbate ( a stable vitamin c that's 50 times more powerful than traditonal C acc to the brand)  for  max brightening power  along with 3% vitamin E and 2% Ferulic Acid, caffeine shea butter, olive fruit oil and hyaluronic acid .

The eye cream gives you  medium moisture, a little firming /tightening  and feels lightweight on .   I do feel my undereye is well hydrated with this as well as keeping it brighter. Thankfully I don't have much in the way of dark circles so I can't speak to that but I do feel as though I've had some brightening along with  a bit more firmed up , toned skin.  I'll  take it. 

Since it isn't a heavy moisturizer this is great for daytime  under makeup and at night and will transition nicely into Fall skincare. 

Peter Thomas Roth Potent C Power Eye Cream is $ 65 at Sephora , Ulta and PeterThomasRoth.com

Bliss Eye Do All Things Hydrating Eye Gel

Your eyes get some TLC with the newest eye treat from Bliss. It's especially nice for all the Summer heat we've been having.

Eye Do All Things Hydrating Gel Cream is a lightweight gel cream that comes with a steel rollerball applicator.  It helps with  with puffiness and brightening,
sinks in quickly but leaves skin feeling nicely moisturized and refreshed  as it has a cooling  feel.  It's not a heavy moisturizer , so it works well for day use  under makeup along with nighttime. It sinks in quickly and doesn't feel sticky.

I like the rollerball aspect, they feel so good under the eyes and  it smoothes in the cream. I still pat a little with my fingers too, just to make sure the area is  well covered. Thankully I'm not puffy and  my under eye is  not too dark so I can't attest to how well it helps with those . I do feel well hydrated under the eye and a little firmed , so this gets a thumbs up.

Eye Do All Thing's ingredients include caffeine, peptides , glycerin, cucumber, horse chestnut, grape Seed and malus ( Swiss green apple) extracts among others along with sunflower seed oil.

Also of big note is that Bliss is now cruelty free with PETA certification.  Also free from phthalates, parabens and SLS.

 Bliss Eye Do All Things Hydrating Eye Gel is $ 22 at blissworld.com  and Ulta 

. 

Yes To Super Eye Masks

My eyes need lots of TLC and I bet yours do too.  While I haven't gotten much onto the face mask trend , I am all for the eye versions.

Yes To has several new ones out to help pop your peepers into shape . Each mask is large , larger than I expected and they cover a bit of your face as well, especially up onto the forehead. So you get some bonus masking. 

These are paper masks that are well saturated with ingredients and liquid.  The Yes To Coconut  is hydrating and firming with coffee extract and coconut oil.   It doesn't feel super moisturizing but just enough and I did feel firming /tightening. 

Then there is Yes To Cucumbers Calming  for soothing and calming with cucumber , aloe  and chamomile extracts. 

Yes To Blueberries ( my fav of the Yes To lines) Skin Recharging mask has Greek yogurt and probiotics along with glycerin  aloe, and the blueberry fruit extract.

All are Leaping Bunny certified , have 95% natural ingredients  and no parabens, sulfates or silicones. They smell pretty great, too. 

Each  single use mask is $2.99  wherever Yes To is sold .

DCL Skincare

DCL Skincare (Dermatologic Cosmetic Laboratories), a recent discovery for me ,  has become my new best friend.

The line was created  using potent ingredient levels 30 years ago by scientists working with dermatologists and until recently was  mainly sold  in Dr's offices here in the US.  They don't do heavy marketing , just good skincare you should know about.

First up let's talk  the fabulous eye cream, Peptide Plus Eye Treatment.  I am always up for a great eye cream and recently my eyes/eye area have gotten extra dry especially on the upper lid area which had always been oily .

This is very moisturizing , glides over skin feeling like whipped butter, absorbs well and feels so good on . It also seems to fill lines a bit , soothes and perks up the area especially the browbone.  Ingredients include peptides , shea butter , sunflower and grape seed oils , vitamin E and rice bran protein. Can I say I love this ?

Next let's talk body care . Why doesn't body care have some of the same good for skin ingredients that our facial care does ? It should,  DCL's  C Scape High Potency Body Lotion  does just that. With  lactic acid and urea , I noticed my skin seemed smoother after just 2 uses.   Vitamin C also adds brightening , which will take longer to achieve but I'm all for it ,and shea butter adds the moisture.  The formula is thin but sinks in pretty quickly.  It does have a bit of the tacky feel that lactic acid creams often have , but it's minimal, less than the couple others I've used. I also didn't notice any sting from the Vitamin C but you may differ. The bottle is a long lasting 10.1 oz. The older you get, the older your skin gets, right ? I want my arms etc to look young(er) and nice too.

The company actually has Youtube videos  featuring  Joel Rubin  Sr VP of Research and Development with a peek into production and ingredients. Check them out here.    

DCL Skincare can now be found at Bloomingdales NYC , online at DCLSkincare.com  as well as in dermatologists offices which are listed online.


DCL Skincare Peptide Plus Eye Treatment is $ 95
DCL  C Scape High Potency Body Lotion is $ 50

Chanel Blue Serum Eye

 
Chanel adds to their rather nice Blue Serum with a new version for eyes. I liked the face serum, it's refreshing and light while adding moisture.

Blue Serum Eye is a lightweight gel cream that feels very soft, gentle  and soothing on the eye area with a bit of a cooling feel.  It smoothes and  firms some and is a light to mid- weight moisturizer.

My eyes are very dry and this isn't quite enough for overnight when I really try to power hydrate them, but I love it for AM use as it's perfect under makeup and adds just enough moisture to start the day along and get the eye area looking more awake.

The serum uses the natural ingredients from the world's "blue zones" where people live longer like Costa Rica , Greece and Sardinia, just as the face serum does. Ingredients include shea butter, olive fruit and  green coffee seed oils, olive leaf  and aloe extracts and mastic gum. 


Chanel Blue Serum Eye is $ 70 for .5 oz at Chanel  and department stores.

Peter Thomas Roth Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra Gel Eye Patches

 
Eyes need all the love they can get .  I use eye cream every day but I've not done any eye masks or gels until now. I had to try the new eye gel patches from Peter Thomas Roth.

These have everything in them you could want to throw at your weary eyes. glycerin,collagen, hyaluronic acid, caffiene, shea butter  , liocrice root extract, aneglica root extract,sesame seed extract aloe leaf juice, castor seed oil,  and a few more root extracts.

The patches are  thin and tear easily, a spatula is enclosed to lift them out with. Once  out of the jar set it onto your eye area. They can be applied teardrop point  up or down depending on what part of eye you want to concentrate on. They are loaded with serum so are very slippery. Once on leave for 10-15 minutes. One side did slip  a little but I pushed it back into place.

They feel cooling right off and after a few minutes on, my under eye started feeling tightened and firmed. After using the area well hydrated and stayed that way until the AM. My skin felt very soft in the morning , softer than usual and seemed lightly smoothed. After you take them off, gently rub in the leftover serum.

You can use the eye gels every day or once in awhile. I think they're perfect for weekend wind down to  erase the week and get things  shaped up for the next.

Peter Thomas Roth Hylaluronic Cloud Hydra Gel Patches are $ 52 for 30 pair jar.