REVIEW: Marie Louise Cosmetics' Moistraiser α-VC (Moisturizing Toner)

Moistraiser α-VC (Moisturizing Toner) - $81.00 (plus tax) for 100ml

I was aproached again by a Marie Louise Cosmetics (MLC) reprensentative to try one of their other products: the Moistraiser a-VC -- their moisturizing toner.  I've had had such a wonderful experience with their other two products (the Restoration Clear Gel and the Cleansing Clear Gel) that I couldn't say no. BUT when I checked the price of this ~3.5 US Fluid Ounces --$81!!-- I almost said no.

I love toners, I always use them to get off my skin the last trace of makeup. I then apply my moisturizer while my face still moist to achieve a higher degree of hydration on my skin.  I expressed my concerns to the MLC representatives about the product qty. vs. cost.  I mean, so much for a toner? Why? I've tried other H.E. toners and never been impressed --and I still remember I was so sad when my Nivea Moisturizing toner was discontinued--.  Of course, they mentioned fine ingredients and their use of nanotechnology on their products (read more HERE).  After reading about all of it,  I decided to give it a try.  I wasn't let down.

I began testing this skincare product like I always do: all my products that work for my skin remain the same, this toner was the only change.  Boy, was I surprised about the results!

The Moistraiser a-VC has to be hands down the best toner ever.  To say that I'm completely amazed by this product wouldn't make justice to it.  This is not your typical liquid toner. It's a bit more dense, a touch more viscous if you will, and I feel like I'm applying a combination of toner/serum. 

To be honest, when I read about what this product was all about, I just expected my skin to feel more hydrated at a deeper level.  I got that all right.  I wasn't sure about if it was going to appear or feel more "vibrant". Well, the biggest difference I noted on my skin was the texture: it changed within two weeks of using this toner!  You know when you exfoliate your skin and it feels incredibly soft for a few days at most?  I started to notice my skin feeling amazingly soft and even-textured all the time! I remember thinking...Well, I know I did not exfoliated my face today so what is this?...   Vibrant indeed, lol. 

 I tend to have "rough skin" on my face with huge pores and dry patches that are inevitable while aging --at least with me.  This toner is a life saver.

I noticed I was touching my face all the time (big no-no for my skin acne) because it felt so amazing. No worries, I stopped doing that. ^__^

I'm glad I decided to try this. I've come to the conclusion that there is a small price to pay when a product does delivers what it claims to do.  The ingredients in this toner include ceramides, glycerin, vitamins and hyaluronic acid.  Amazing combination that really works for a younger looking skin that feels AMAZING. Love, love, love this.  

I would truly recommend this product to ladies with all skin types, as it is absorbed quickly by the skin. It hasn't cause me any allergic reactions or broke me out.  And I can tell you  that because I've been using this product since mid-July and all is good. Oh, and I still have a little less than half the product left.  In my experience, not much is needed to achieve results.  I just follow the instructions on how to apply.

After trying three of MLC products, I decided to buy first the travel size kit to finally try their moisturizer.  Curious note:  Amazon wanted to charged me $30+ USD for shipping the $28 kit! Since that was ridiculous I wrote to MLC and the service was amazing. They shipped the product for about $6 USD  through the USPS.  It arrived in perfect conditions (Psssst...loving it so far!). Yes!

RATING:  5/5 (delivers what it promises, excellent overall; be careful no to let the glass bottle fall on the floor!)

**I've noted Marie Louise Cosmetics normally has monthly sales of their products at great discounts, so check out their website if you're interested.



IMPORTANT NOTICE! This review was possible thanks to a sample product sent for my consideration by a PR Agency/Marketing Firm/Brand Representative. My reviews are based on my personal experience with each product. I don't get paid to do my reviews, I do get to keep the samples the companies send me. Also, any link provided in the review is for your convenience only, I don't get paid if you click on it. I will tell you the day I do.

Working girl!

Yes, I know I have not blogged much lately. Some of you may remember that I was looking for a job.  At least one that pays in $$ and not only in "Thanks Mom!" currency, LOL!  All my energy was on getting a new job.

Well, I got it! These first few days have been kinda crazy and hectic, but so far I'm loving it.  Yes!

 Image: Masterfile.com

I guess I will be posting mostly on weekends, maybe schedule my posts so there is continuity in this blog.  As always, I love to read your comments and messages, so don't be shy!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Pixiwoo's WP Mascara Challenge

These ladies are amazing and very funny. This is the definition of having fun while experimenting with makeup.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com: Low-Rated Eyeshadows

Low-Rated Eyeshadows

See which tacky and wacky eye makeup products Total Beauty readers give two thumbs down to.

This is a TotalBeauty.com eye makeup article From shadows that cake in the creases of your lids to ones that are difficult to use -- see why they made our worst eyeshadows list. See eyeshadows

No. 7: Avon Anew Beauty Eye-Lifting Serum Shadow, $10

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.4

"This goes on too wet and smears all over your eyes …"

No. 6: Pop Beauty Eye Cake, $19

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.3

"They flake so badly …"

No. 5: Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Eye Shadow Duo, $7.95

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6

"I had high expectations for this eyeshadow and it failed to deliver …"

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Estée Lauder Double Wear Makeup 3W1 vs 4W1--Swatches!

You may already know that I absolutely love the EL Double Wear Makeup (review here).  Both shades 3W1-Tawny and 4W1-Shell Beige work for me during the course of the year. Right now I'm mixing both of them to get my perfect shade. In MAC terms, I'm in between NC35-37 right now. I think 4W1 could work for NC40 ladies.

These shades are very different between them, so if you are considering buying I strongly recommend getting a sample first at your nearest EL counter.

I guess that would be my biggest complaint with this foundation: the small selection of colors.

**I'm always fascinated how in the "foundation world" we all speak the same language when referring to MAC shades**

++Click on all pics for enlarged versions of them++

Just applied (wet) on NC30 skin --back of my arms--

Dry

L8R!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com: Best and Worst Celebrity-Endorsed Fragrances

Best and Worst Celebrity-Endorsed Fragrances

Find out which perfumes Total Beauty readers love to breathe in and which ones make them hold their noses.

This is a TotalBeauty.com perfume article Our readers give you the inside scoop on the best and worst celebrity fragrances -- saving you the hassle of trying on boatloads of perfumes to the point of confusing your senses. See perfumes

The Worst: No. 3: White Diamonds Elizabeth Taylor Parfum, $100

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.4

"It's like granny perfume that has been sitting on the dresser for 40 years …"

The Best: No. 7: Baby Phat Goddess Eau de Toilette, $29.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8

"I think I've found a new favorite scent …"

No. 6: Jennifer Lopez Live Luxe Eau de Parfum Spray, $39.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.7

"I wear this almost every day now …"

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

¡Viva, amen y rían!

Sigma Brushes F80 & F25

Sigma F80 brush ($16 USD -- SigmaBeauty.com)

I bought the F80 brush back in April when it was still known as the SS197. To be honest, I didn't like it at first. It was too stiff, too dense. So I kept using my ELF Powder Studio Brush for applying my foundation (I love it so much, I have 3) for weeks. Since I'm not one for wasting money, I decided to use the SS197 more often. I discovered it became softer after a few uses, but firm enough to provide great blending of my products.  Then I noticed it began to shed and loosing great part of the bristles.  I think I hadn't used it more than 10 times when this happened:

Broken Sigma F80

The horror! (LOL--Drama!) Of course I checked the warranty.  SigmaBeauty has, IMHO, a great warranty policy but you have to fill out a form they provide and send the product and pay for S/H, etc... I sent them these pictures first, because honestly I didn't want to go through all that to get a "sorry, no can do" answer.  To my surprise they replied super fast and told me I didn't need to send them the broken brush and documents (thus, I needed not to waste money on S/H). They sent me a new brush that arrived (if I remember well) like 5 days after sending the pics. Now that's good service!

The new brush had the new name imprinted (F80) and after washing it and using it for week, it has become one of my favorites.  I say one of my favorites because I use different foundation brushes depending on the foundation (i.e., some liquid foundations are  denser/thicker than others).  There are many ways of using this brush, I just love to play with it. I like how it makes the foundation feel on my skin, very natural. I can do a stippling motion to apply more product on problem areas. Of course it can be use for cream products too.  Great product.  Shipping was just $4.00 for Puerto Rico.

Is it very different from the ELF Studio Powder brush? I do feel the difference in terms of the density.  The ELF brush feel a bit more 'fluffier' and of course there's the price difference -- $16 vs $3(ELF)--. Am I happy I bought the F80? Absolutely.

RATING: 5/5

F80 compared to ELF Studio Powder Brush

Sigma F25 brush ($18.99 USD -- AllCosmeticsWholesale.com)

I wanted the MAC 138 brush so bad to use it as a bronzer brush but hey, $52 bucks are way over my budget right now. I've read this brush is very similar, so I bought it through ACW  just because I was also getting a Stila Sun Bronzer in 02.

Now, I can't compare it to the MAC 138 (as I mentioned I don't have it), but the F25 works wonderfully with powder products. The reason I wanted to use it for bronzer was because, as many YouTube makeup gurus explained, the tip of the brush helps to precisely apply the product where you want to and then when pressed a little more, the wider area of bristles blend the powder on the skin. Love that.  I used other brushes like the MAC129, 134 or 150 for bronzer but I'm loving the F25 more for contouring. Anyway, as with my foundation, I use different brushes depending on the bronzer.

The F25 is very, very soft. I do wish the brush were a bit more dense to help with the blending -- some bronzers are "harder" to apply than others, but it works great with very pigmented bronzers.  There has been a little shedding, more like broken bristles, when washing it.  But nothing like my experience with the F80, until now --I'll let you guys know!--.  Shipping with ACW --to Puerto Rico-- was less than $6 bucks for both products and the delivery was also fast.

RATING:  4.5/5

F25 (top) & F80 -- (sorry, my F80 was dirty)

I hope the review and pics are of use for you guys.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com: Best Makeup in the 2010 Emmy Awards

Did you watch the Emmys? I didn't =(

Who do you think looked her best -- hair and makeup speaking?

And the 2010 Emmy for Best Makeup Goes To …

See which celebrity we think rocked the best makeup look this year.

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup article Amid all the glammed up starlets, Julie Bowen's deep, smoky eye was the winner in our book. Follow these steps to get her look. See steps

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Tagged! My 'Getting Ready' Routine

I was tagged by the beautiful Tamara (Nepenthe--Beauty Thesis Blog) to post about the products I use everyday to 'get ready' -- check her routine here.  I have to tell you, it's a simple routine but since I'm not faithful to many products, this list may seem loooooonnnggg.  LOL.  I'm posting the products I reach out for most of the time and some comments about them.

Oh, and my everyday makeup look is very neutral/natural.

Skin Care

• Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser. I exfoliate in the morning every 3 days; If I exfoliate my face I don't use the cleanser. ***I alternate between St. Ives Medicated Apricot Scrub and the Marie Louise Cosmetics Restoration Clear Gel***.
• Marie Louise Cosmetics Moistraiser α-VC (Moisturizing Toner) : Love this! Gonna do a review soon. I has become an important part of my life!
• Moisturizer with SPF of at least 15: Right now I'm loving L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise Futur*e Moisturizer SPF 15 for Normal to Dry Skin -- Though I have combination skin, my cheeks get very dry due to acne treatments; I'm looking for a moisturizer with higher SPF though.
• Eye Cream: Honestly, I use the first tube I grab from my drawer -- MAC Fast Response is a favorite; Neutrogena Ageless Essentials Continuous Hydration Eye Cream is also great for my under eye area. 
• If I'm not using makeup, I'll apply a sunscreen lotion of at least 30; I still don't have a favorite but I like Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 45 and many physical sunscreens (sunblocks).

Face

• Primer: MAC Prep+Prime SPF 50; I do use other primers but this is my fave.
• Foundation:  Most of the time I alternate between Estée Lauder Double Wear (4W1), Revlon Colorstay (True Beige in Norma/Dry Skin most of the time), Neutrogena Healthy Skin Makeup (Fresh Beige); I leave my beloved MUFE HD Foundation #128 mostly for special occasions. 
• Setting Powder:  Right now I'm using Maybelline Dream Matte Powder (Beige Medium) -- Awesome product, another review coming up!
• Blush&Bronzer: E.L.F. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder -- although I have bought some new bronzers that I'm really loving.

Eyes

• Primer/Base: EL Double Wear Concealer (Medium) or MUFE Full Coverage Concealer (#10)
• Eyeshadow: I don't use e/s everyday; I set the concealer with Revlon Photo Ready Translucent Finisher.
• Eyebrows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil (Stud) or Maybelline Define-A-Brow Pencil (Dark Brown)
• Mascara: Usually CoverGirl Lash-Blast Mascara in Very Black.

Lips

• Primer: Sally Hansen Healing Butter for Lips -- ALWAYS!
• Lipstick/Lipgloss: Any gloss that suits my makeup or clothes. Love Revlon and MAC.

So there you have it. I can honestly say I get ready in 15 minutes or less, yay! I've added some links that will take you to articles I've wrote in the past about the mentioned products.

L8R!

ETA: A pic of me using products mentioned in this routine:

• I used Neutrogena Healthy Skin in 70-Fresh Beige, the ELF Contouring Blush & Bronzing Duo, EL Double Wear Concealer (Medium) on eyes and MAC Pink Poodle L/G.

Left -- Beautiful Me in the mornings; Right -- A better version of Me in the mornings, =D

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Quick Update...

Man, I've haven't been able to blog as much as I would like. My husband is using the family laptop for work and yeah, that's way more important. I have a many things to blog about, I hope to get them up this weekend -- which is not a long weekend for me since hubby will work on Monday and I help him with his agenda...and the kids.   ;)

Have a nice weekend! // ¡Lindo fin de semana!


¡Vivan, amen y rían!