EYES Archives - fragroom

February 17, 2018

3 Top Eye Products To Look Out For: Chanel Blue Serum Eye, Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift, Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Eye Serum

The area around the eye is the most delicate skin on the face. So no surprises that it’s one of the first to show the signs of neglect, good times/bad behaviour and ageing. It’s for this reason that it pays to invest in an eye product that does what it says. Which means expect to pay more if you want to see noticeable results. How do these three eye products measure up?

ELIZABETH ARDEN ADVANCED CERAMIDE CAPSULES DAILY YOUTH RESTORING EYE SERUM

What it does: If you’re familiar with Elizabeth Arden’s super-duper Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum, these babies are the equivalent for the fight against ageing around the eye area. They boost the skin’s natural barrier, increase moisture and combat fine lines and wrinkles.

Ingredients: I will not bore you with the full list of ingredients. Suffice to say, each capsule contains a concentrated dose of potent and highly effective ingredients. These include: Enhanced Ceramide Lipid Complex to boost the skin’s natural barrier; moisture-boosting Botanical Complex Technology; and nourishing tsubaki (camellia) oil.

The verdict: Super-duper, of course! The more Elizabeth Arden products I use, the more I am impressed by the brand. These capsules are well worth looking at if you want the best of science and nature.

R655 for 60ml.

DERMALOGICA STRESS POSITIVE EYE LIFT

What it does: An eye treatment and masque in one, this product helps restore the skin’s protective barrier, reduces the appearance of puffiness and dark circles, and perks up the eye area.

Ingredients: Active ingredients include: wild indigo seed to combat under-eye circles; sea water extract and Arctic algae for puffiness; and bioactive diglucosyl gallic acid to energise the eye area.

The verdict: It comes with a cooling massage applicator, which feels great when you use it. This applicator can also be used to massage the eye area. I found that DIY massage unnecessarily fussy. Not to worry, the product works just as well without it.

R1 210 for 25ml.

CHANEL BLUE SERUM EYE

What it does: The newest addition to the Chanel Blue Serum range takes on puffiness and dirk circles, and smooths and firms the eye area.

Ingredients: It contains ingredients consumed in the world’s blue zones: Green coffee PFA from Costa Rican green coffee, renowned for its antioxidant properties; olive tree oleo-active from Sardinian olives, rich in anti-ageing molecules; and regenerative gum extract from Greek lentisk.

The verdict: Blue zones? Yip, I was also a bit flummoxed by that one. Basically, these are regions in the world where people live longer and better. While I can’t vouch for the veracity of that theory, I can tell you that Chanel Blue Serum Eye is easily absorbed and is one of the most elegant and efficient eye products around.

R1 170 for 15ml.

June 23, 2017

How To Maximise Your Beauty Sleep

While there are many airy-fairy concepts when it comes to grooming and self-maintenance, beauty sleep is not one of them. There’s plenty of research which shows how the skin goes into regeneration mode when we sleep. And beauty sleep becomes even more important as we get older.

CALM DOWN: Lavender to relax.

There are many things we can do to improve the quality of our beauty sleep. Most of these centre on reducing the hyper-stimulation of modern life. (Note to self: Do not post on Instagram before bedtime. You know you will not be able to help yourself replying to comments. Ditto copious amounts of tea and coffee. Self-lecture over.). If you are looking for a good read on the dire consequences of sleep deprivation, I would recommend The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington (WH Allen).

Lavender and camomile tea are well-known for their calming properties. So I am making a conscious effort to include these in my bed-time routine.

CUPPA SLEEP: More camomile, less caffeine.

Recommended beauty sleep products

A good night’s rest will show on your face. But it’s also a good idea to incorporate the right products into your bedtime routine to maximise your beauty sleep. I have been using all of the products below for over a month. And while they are not all strictly bedtime products, they have all worked for me.

TIRED AND TESTED: The beauty sleep quartet.

Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Peel and Reveal Revitalizing Mask (R385 for 50ml)

It’s only recently that I have started using Elizabeth Arden products. This beauty sleep product for all skin types does exactly what it says. Its active ingredients include cabernet seed extract, a botanical complex of alpha and beta hydroxy acids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid and natural sugar extract. I have been applying Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Peel and Reveal Revitalizing Mask once a week at night. I get a major kick from peeling it off after 20 minutes.

Gatineau Melatogenine Futur Plus Anti-Wrinkle Radiance Mask (R750 for 75ml)

This superb beauty sleep product from the French pharmacy brand Gatineau comes with wrinkle-busting collagen, the company’s exclusive Melatogenine molecule and hyaluronic acid. If you are in a rush, it can be applied for 10 minutes. Even better, apply a thin layer and leave overnight for a more intensive anti-ageing treatment. It can be used on the face and around the eye area. Beauty sleep bonus!

Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Overnight Cream (R1 450 for 50ml)

Prevage is Elizabeth Arden’s premium anti-ageing range, with super-slick packaging to match (yes, these things are important to me). Dehydrated skin? Slack skin? Wrinkles? Sun damaged skin? Prevage Anti-Aging Overnight Cream combats all of these with a tongue-twisting mix of Idebenone Ester (a powerful antioxidant), hydroxypinacolone-retinoate (a vitamin A derivative), lemon peel extract, vitamin A acetate, glycerine, shea and cocoa butter and an advanced moisture complex. It ain’t cheap, but it’s a top beauty sleep investment. Plus you will only need to use a little at a time.

Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex (R990 for 50ml)

The area around the eye is super-delicate and is often the first to show signs of ageing. Fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles and dryness… you know the look. Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex contains a potent mix of ingredients to improve cell turnover, collagen production and firmness. These ingredients include retinol, vitamin B₃, hyaluronic acid, algae extract and provitamin B5. Due to its high concentration of retinol, I used this on alternate nights for two weeks and then made it part of my bedtime routine.

June 3, 2017

5 Reasons To Check Out This Beauty Entrepreneur’s Thriving Brands

South Africa might be known for many things, including Nelson Mandela, its natural beauty, progressive constitution and multi-culturalism. But it’s not regarded as a big player in the global beauty industry. However, ambitious South African beauty entrepreneurs such as Marisa Dimitriadis are slowly changing that reality. Dimitriadis is the brains behind thriving beauty brands. These include The Spa Consultants (a spa development consultancy), Spalicious (a range of manicure, pedicure and body products) and Six Sensational Skincare (a comprehensive skincare range).

Most recently, in 2016, Dimitriadis launched the Six Man skincare range. Currently, she exports to Mauritius, Angola, Mozambique and Namibia. Sri Lanka is next on the expansion agenda.

BEAUTY ENTREPRENEUR: Marisa Dimitriadis, the brains behind The Spa Consultants, Spalicious, Six Sensational Skincare and Six Man.

Dimitriadis has put her extensive experience in the beauty industry to good use over the last decade by launching her own beauty businesses. Each of these brands is guided by her philosophy. “Prevention is better, easier and less costly than cure. I believe in using every single product available to treat my skin and body for the specific needs it has at that specific time,” she says.

‘Prevention is better, easier and less costly than cure.’

MADE IN (SUNNY) SOUTH AFRICA: Six Sensational Skincare and Six Man products.

Here are my five top reasons for checking out this beauty entrepreneur’s various brands.

1. Product development control

Dimitriadis used to rely on third parties for advice on product development. But like any good entrepreneur, she realised certain things needed to remain under her control.

“Now that I am in control of product development, I am so much more in tune with trends in skincare and ingredients. I watch all brands’ activity, especially the multinational retail brands. I try everything that looks or sounds interesting,” she says.

2. Variety, Six Sensational Skincare-style

Launched in 2010, the Six Sensational Skincare range encompasses a wide variety of products. From cleansers and moisturisers to masks, serums and exfoliators, you will find it here.

Six Sensational Skincare products target a wide variety of conditions, including oily skin, pigmentation, ageing and dehydration. All the products are made with a high percentage of active ingredients.

Fragroom product recommendation: Six Sensational Skincare Glycolic Acid 8% Foaming Face Wash.

A few months ago I gave this product the thumbs up. It delivers on its promise of breaking down skin surface build-up, without stripping my skin.

3. Men’s grooming range

Although their pretty packaging might say otherwise, Six Sensational Skincare and Spalicious are perfectly good for men to use. But Dimitriadis spotted the need for a skincare range that targets the specific grooming needs of men. Six Man includes three high-performance, no-nonsense products. These include the Men’s Shaving Face Wash, Men’s Moisturising Cream and Men’s Beard Oil.

Fragroom product recommendation: Six Man Men’s Shaving Face Wash.

This cleanser and shaving preparation in one is made with aloe leaf extract and nettle. All the Six Man products score double-duty points.

DOUBLE DUTY: Six Man Men’s Shaving Face Wash, Six Man Men’s Moisturising Cream and Six Man Men’s Beard Oil.

4. Men’s treatments

Dimitriadis knows that men are suckers for pampering (although they often don’t want to admit it). So she launched four male-specific treatments, including the Six Man on the Move and Six Man Energizing Facial.

Fragroom treatment recommendation: Six Man High Performance AHA Skin Peel.

With lactic and glycolic acids, it combats spots, fine lines and dehydration. The 30-minute treatment left me feeling and looking not-so-47.

LIMITED EDITION (TRULY): Spalicious Gluhwein Butter.

5. Limited editions

I am usually highly sceptical of limited editions. Often they just reek of a marketing cash-in. But Dimitriadis assured this journalist that her limited editions are indeed the real deal. Made in limited quantities, they are available only for three months from launch.

I received the limited-edition Spalicious Gluhwein Gift Pack, containing Gluhwein Butter, Gluhwein Soak and Gluhwein Scrub. The nourishing Gluhwein Butter stood out for me. Although methinks its shimmer is probably best suited to a night out for the girls.

For more information, go to www.thespaconsultants.co.za, spalicious.co.za and sixskincare.com.

March 18, 2017March 25, 2017

4 Top Grooming Tips: How To Apply Your Eye Cream, How To Store Your Fragrance

Tips Eyes

Grooming can be hard work if you’re not equipped with the right tools and essential know-how. For myself, I know there’s always (g)room for improvement. I hope these top grooming tips help alleviate any confusion.

HOW TO APPLY YOUR EYE CREAM

Up until a few months ago, I used to apply my eye cream/serum with a heavy hand. Like many of us, I rubbed it under my eye, the inside outwards. And then Dermalogica’s national training manager, Diana van Sittert, put me right with these top grooming tips. As the skin surrounding the eye area is super-thin and sensitive, it needs to be treated with the care it deserves.

Dispense a pea-sized amount onto your ring fingers.
Dot the product under your eyes, moving from the outer corners inwards.
Circle the product around your eyes three times.

HOW TO DRY YOUR HAIR

Easy enough, right? Shower, dry vigorously and off you go. Absolutely – if you want to damage your hair. But if you want to maintain the condition and shine of your hair, best follow these top grooming tips from hair salon owner Penny Cheong:

After hair has been shampooed and conditioned, use a smooth, absorbent towel, preferably one made of a micro-fibre fabric, not a rough cotton terry towel.
Remove the excess water by gently pressing the towel to your head. Avoid vigorous scalp rubbing.
The aim is to remove excess water, but to keep some moisture and allow your hair to naturally air-dry further.
Aggressive towel-drying damages the hair cuticles and can also damage the follicles, leading to premature hair loss – something all men would rather avoid

Tips Hair HOW TO PERK UP TIRED LOOKING SKIN

You haven’t slept well again or you’ve pulled an all-nighter. And your face is looking haggard as hell. While there are plenty of products that promise a quick rescue job, there’s a highly effective solution right inside your freezer. Ice cubes. These are great for increasing facial blood circulation and de-puffing the eye area, among other benefits.

Wrap the ice cube in a paper serviette and circulate around the problem areas. Don’t apply ice directly to your face, as this could cause broken capillaries.
If that’s too extreme for you, a good splash of cold water also helps banish a multitude of sins.

Tips Ice HOW TO STORE YOUR FRAGRANCE

Did you know that if you don’t store your fragrances the right way, they can spoil over time? What a waste that would be! While you don’t need to build a Chateau Lafitte Rothschild-worthy cellar for your precious perfumes, think of them as a composition of fine molecules that needs to be protected from the harsh elements.

Keep your fragrances out of direct sunlight.
Your stash of fragrances looks mightily impressive in your bathroom, but all that steam and up-down temperature is not going to do them any good.
Some aficionados insist that the refrigerator is the best place to store fragrances, but there’s not much consensus on that. The main thing is to store them in a cool, dark place. A cabinet or box will do.

PS: While Zadig & Voltaire This Is Him! makes for a cool photo prop, it’s also a darn good fragrance. So while I have your attention, I will give it a well-deserved punt. The notes of grapefruit, incense, sandalwood, vanilla and black pepper come together beautifully in this one. Simplicity is the ultimate seduction.

Tips Fragrance

January 9, 2017March 1, 2017

AN EYE FOR TOM FORD

TF Main Pic When a grooming product is expensive I have very high expectations. And when that product is from Mr Suave Perfection himself, Tom Ford, my expectations are even higher than usual.

The American designer always looks so well put together, so naturally I expected some of that TF magic for myself when I started using Tom Ford For Men Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment.

According to the Tom Ford website, this product is “infused with the Tom Ford skin calming and infusing complexes”. As good as that sounds, I wanted more details, which the ingredients list on the product box provided.

Apart from the inclusion of several dimethicones (that is, silicon-based skin protectants known for creating a hydrating barrier on the skin and their temporary skin-plumping properties), I noticed a number of natural extracts, including algae, St Paul’s Wort, sweet almond and tangerine peel. Nice! I am always for a combo of the best of science and nature.

So how did Tom Ford Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment perform? I started using it a month ago when the area around my eyes was looking particularly tired. As per the instructions, I have been applying it morning and night, using the very sexy contoured applicator.

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS: The very sexy contoured applicator.

Four weeks later, the area around my eyes is definitely looking perkier and plumper. And I am appreciating why this Tom Ford Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment is so pricey. I actually believe the interviews I have read in which Mr Ford makes the ultimate brand endorsement by saying he uses his own products.

Next on my grooming hit-list: To try some more products from the Tom Ford For Men grooming range. The Skin Revitalizing Concentrate sounds good. Ditto the Intensive Purifying Mud Mask and Concealer.

Tom Ford For Men Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment, R1 045, is available from Stuttafords Sandton, Stuttafords Eastgate, Edgars Mall of Africa and Edgars V&A Waterfront.

Category: EYES