Don’t have time to head to the spa for a facial to soothe your tired face? Neither do we. But we do make time for this exclusive, pore-cleansing blend of alpha and polyhydroxy acids. Slather the refreshing gel mask on your clean face, and don’t be shy - an extra-thick layer renders the best results. Give yourself twenty minutes of sheer relaxation (we insist), then peel to reveal firmer skin, energized pores and vanished fine lines. We love that this product is the real deal: the company behind it was formed by the two doctors who made the groundbreaking discovery that alpha hydroxy acids (AHA’s) have a unique ability to stimulate prematurely aged or damaged skin to rejuvenate itself. Use the Exuviance mask once a week, or more for stressed skin. Your face will thank you, and you’ll look like you’ve actually been getting those crucial eight hours of deep sleep.

I don't know about looking like I got more sleep, but the Exuviance mask does make my skin look firmer and smoother, at least temporarily. And I kinda like the smell - it reminds me a bit of fresh plums. And do slather it on thickly - it peels off better that way.

Available in this quarter's BeautyFix package.

Straight from Lisa Hoffman’s dreams (literally - the brand was sparked by a dream she had) to your beauty routine, the Vitamin A & C Serum will smooth and firm your skin, revealing a youthful glow. Regularly traveling the globe with her husband, actor Dustin Hoffman, Lisa gathers beauty secrets along the way and incorporates them into her cutting-edge products. This serum is her personal fave (she fondly refers to it as “liquid gold”) and after one application, you’ll discover why. Apply this powerful potion to your skin before bedtime and awake to a more radiant you. The silky texture glides on beautifully, the Vitamin A reduces the visible signs of aging, and the Vitamin C repairs damage inflicted by environmental aggressors. This panelist favorite will quickly become a staple in your beauty arsenal.

Lisa Hoffman's Vitamin A & C Serum does have a lovely texture that glides on beautifully - it immediately makes skin feel more supple and moist. I have combination skin, so I apply it to the drier areas of my face (cheeks, around the eyes) that seems to need the most help. I love it, and my skin really does look better in the morning. I've been using it for about 2 weeks now and know I'll see even more improvement after longer use.

Included in this quarter's BeautyFix collection.

Glowelle is a dietary supplement in the form of a beauty drink that packs a powerful punch. Fighting back against aging from the inside out only requires one drink per day. Each powder packet contains a beauty-inducing concoction of antioxidants—including Vitamins A, C and E—that your skin needs to stay hydrated and glowing. Both the tangy-sweet Pomegranate Lychee and the refreshing Raspberry Jasmine flavor packets contain as much Vitamin E as found in 108 almonds, as much selenium as found in nearly two servings of salmon, and as much lutein as found in eight cups of romaine lettuce. You can mix the powder packet with water or with your favorite juice, but we recommend making a Glowelle smoothie. Drink up, and bring your inner beauty to the surface.

Ok - while full of antioxidants and all that good stuff, the Glowelle sticks is probably my least favorite thing from the BeautyFix pack this quarter. I got Raspberry Jasmine, which smells like a dead ringer for powdered raspberry Jell-o and doesn't taste much better; it has the rather pronounced bitterness of artificial sweetener. And the powder is gritty and doesn't quite dissolve all the way - there's always a thick residue left at the bottom of my glass, no matter how much water I add, or whether I shake or stir.

Personally, I'll stick to my multivitamin pills.

Celebrity makeup artist Shalini Vadhera has always been fascinated by the beauty secrets of women from different cultures around the world. So fascinated, in fact, that she wrote a best selling book Passport to Beauty and created Global Goddess Beauty – a line of cosmetics inspired by international beauty techniques that features exotic ingredients. Developed with your inner seductress in mind, i-Divine Eyeshadows are formulated with highly pigmented color in a velvety texture that glides over lids effortlessly. All of the shadows are infused with powerful antioxidants from white tea, which means you get a satiny eye shadow that does double duty, working tirelessly to reverse the effects of aging free radicals.

I hate that some eyeshadows - even some high-end ones - feel rough on the lids and while they deliver pigment, it falls right off. iDivine is indeed velvety and goes on wonderfully smoothly, and the color lasts for quite a while. I have oily lids, so nothing lasts forever on me, but this was pretty good. And if the effects of free radicals are being reversed in the process...hmmm...I should stock up!

In this quarter's BeautyFix mailing.

I found this in my mailbox the other day. Sounds like fun!

Dear Perfume Lovers

Have you ever heard about Cinquième Sens (Fifth Sense in French)? Any self-respecting fragrance fanatic should know that Cinquième Sens is a well-known perfumery school, based in Paris just near the Eiffel Tower. Our New York training center is located Midtown East, near to the Grand Central Station and we propose small group workshops for anyone who wants to learn about fragrances. Our method of work is interactive and we carry a particular attention to the quality of our trainings and the interactions between participants.

Would you like to test your sense of smell? Identify the different raw materials? Understand the vocabulary of fragrance? Gain knowledge about the perfumer’s work?

If so our trainings are designed for you! You’ll have the opportunity to work with our Olfactorium® which is a compact version of a Perfumer’s Palette and contains 48 raw materials and fragrances.

We currently propose 2 trainings depending on your needs and interests:

- The Perfumer Palette (3 hours): an introductory session to measure your olfactory abilities and acquire methods for memorizing odors.

- Introduction to Technique and Language of Perfumery (2days): an introduction to the universe of perfume from raw materials to fragrance classification.

Please feel free to contact me for more information. I’ll give you with pleasure the next sessions’ dates and I can send you detailed information.

My name is Laura, you can reach me at (212) 686-4135 or laura@cinquiemesens.com.

I hope to share with you a nice perfumed experience!

Kind regards.

Laura

In developing In Bloom, I found myself drawn to the scents of my childhood in Tennessee,” explains Reese Witherspoon. “We had a great big Magnolia tree in the back yard, and it's that beautiful white blossom that inspired the perfume. In Bloom is indicative of where I am in my life today. I'm feeling very strong and independent, and so happy, so full of life. The fragrance truly captures that feeling—it's very sensual, very romantic and alluring.”

The fragrance:
Top: Georgia peach, tea leaves and crisp greens
Heart: Star gardenia, magnolias and night-blooming jasmine
Base: cashmere woods, hypnotic florals and amber wood crystals. 


The fragrance will be available globally in November in two sizes: a 1.7-oz. eau de parfum for $34, and a 1-oz. limited edition version for $59. A body mist, body lotion and shower gel also will be available for $15.

Isabel Ryan, Director of Avon Creative Development:
“Reese was the perfect partner on the fragrance – she was fully involved in the whole process from the development of the juice and packaging to the fragrance name. I logged many miles flying between NY and LA to work with her to make sure the end result was a true reflection of Reese’s style.”

Watching a couple seasons of Jonathan Antin on his Bravo show, Blow Out, I became fascinated by his insistence that his products be made a certain way, with certain ingredients, to have certain properties. He was even picky (in a bitchy way) about the packaging. And it was all worth it - every Jonathan Product I've tried has been pretty terrific.

Finish Control provides a flexible hold that's brushable and flake-free. It also tames fly-aways, even in humid weather. I've been using it for two weeks now and I think I love it more than I love Elnett! The hold is great, it doesn't give that wet and sticky look that cheaper hairsprays do (I'm looking at you, Suave and Aussie), and it doesn't reek! In fact, it smells quite pleasant.

This 100% vegan formula boasts rose and cucumber essential waters, sweet almond, soy and rice proteins, and a cocktail of botanical extracts including white tea, almond, grapefruit, pomegranate, Tahitian gardenia and coconut. It's mineral oil, synthetic colorant, DEA, and MEA-free. You get good for your hair ingredients and a fabulous finish, but it comes at a price - $30. But you're worth it, right?

Featured in this quarter's BeautyFix selection.

Beautyfix is an online sampling service that provides 8 different full- or travel-sized products to members on a quarterly basis, for $49.95 per quarter. That sounds like a lot of cash, but when you consider that this quarter's package contained a $30 hair spray, and a $26 treatment mask plus 6 other products, you get a lot for your money - plus it's all top-of-the line goodies from companies like 3Lab and Lisa Hoffman.

Forget navigating the beauty department at your local department store, trying to guess which products will work best and which are worth the price. Beautyfix brings you the season’s must-have products selected by a panel of industry insiders – for a fraction of the price – plus free gifts and member-only discounts on additional products. Now you can spoil yourself without splurging.

Sounds good to me! Stay tuned this month to hear my reviews on the products contained in this quarter's BeautyFix package.

Notes: green notes, sap, guava, magnolia, tuberose, frangipani, marigold, guaiac and cedarwood, vetiver, patchouli, moss

I finally got my hands on a sample of Fleur de Liane, completely expecting not to like it. I read that it was a "melon-y aquatic" and I hate aquatics. Happily, Fleur de Liane is neither melon-y nor aquatic. On my skin, it's a dry green floral with a ton of pale woods. In the opening, there's the barest hint of something fruity, possibly guava, but that lasts mere seconds. The floral aspect is like a spring garden with fresh cut grass - primarily green, not sweet nor heady, certainly not the killer combo of tuberose and frangipani.

Maybe it's just me, but I find Fleur de Liane to be as much a woody fragrance as a floral/green. In the drydown, the patch and moss add a bit of earthiness, but it's all about the woods for me. Happily, I like this one. A lot.

Notes: honey, musk, incense, tobacco leaf, hay sugar, amber, iris, rose, sandalwood

I'm late to the Lutens bandwagon. I read so many fawning reviews of the line, and while I have sniffed and liked a few, I've not yet been bowled over by any one particular scent. (Although Fleurs de Citronnier came close.)

I received a sample of Chergui in the mail recently, from a lovely SA at Bergie's, and immediately dabbed a bit on. Love! It's a cozy fragrance, a bit like pipe tobacco, one that's been studded with Jordan almonds and kissed with honey. Ok, maybe it's not quite that sweet, but it is reminiscent of almonds.

Underneath the almondy goodness is a nice dose of powder, scented with rose and a delicate sandalwood. I've read some reviews that suggest Chergui would be a good scent for the fall and winter, but the powder note is so nice, I think it would be equally lovely in warm months. Guess I'll have to test that theory for myself....