How To Beat The Bed Rest Blues: Skincare

I know, I just couldn't stay away! Stoked that I got my new laptop adapter and now I can blog away! 

Everywhere I look, I see women in their hospital gowns, hair matted, skin pale and sallow, dark circles and puffy eyes. Granted, the majority of them just gave birth and looking hot really isn't their first priority. I'm bed ridden, but since I can still move around a bit I'm making an effort to look as "non-patient" as I can if you know what I mean. I refuse to wear a hospital gown unless I really need to and make time to fit in a skin and makeup routine. These to me are some of the things that will keep me sane and feel normal in a not-so-normal situation. 

Many of the beauty articles you're reading now are all about "How To Beat The Heat With These Products", but since my problem is being in a stuffy hospital with average air circulation, I need products that will make my skin look bright and radiant! Since the a/c is broken, we have fans blowing everywhere. To prevent my skin from looking lack-luster and dry, I've turned to a few must-have products starting with skincare!

1. Dr. Dennis Gross All In One Cleanser With Toner ($32 CAD. The Shopping Channel): Have I mentioned before that I love multi-taskers? I didn't want to pack a slew of beauty products so this cleanser was the perfect choice. It's a 3-in-1 cleanser that cleanses, tones and removes makeup even water-proof products. It contains natural Witch Hazel, Chamomile, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamins A,C, and E so it won't strip your skin. What I love most about it, is that it works for all skin types. If you have dry skin like me, you just need to massage into skin with dry hands for 10 seconds. Oilier types have to massage it in for 30 seconds. It applies really creamy, yet rinses off easily leaving my skin feeling smooth and clean.

2. Bobbi Brown Brightening Advanced Serum ($105 USD): I don't usually wear serums, but once I tried the newest star from Bobbi Brown I couldn't put it down. I seriously love the way it feels on my skin and how luminous my face looks after. It applies so silky smooth and feels super hydrating - some days I'll just apply this on my skin with no moisturizer. It's infused with Red Algae, Vitamin C Complex, and a unique blend of Grape, Mulberry, Scutellaria (soothing and anti-inflammatory properties) that even out the tone of your skin and make it look brighter. I've started noticing that since I've been using it, the tone of my skin seems brighter, texture smoother and my pores smaller. I apply this under my lotion to absorb and lock into the skin, but I think you're supposed to apply over your lotion according to the site. Either way it works lovely, but I'm still balking at the price. I believe in investing in good skin care, so if it's within my budget it's something I would definitely buy again. 

3. La Mer The Eye Concentrate ($165 USD): La Mer products are a luxury and definitely not apart of my everyday skincare regime. I was lucky enough to receive a deluxe size and thought why not spoil myself while I'm in the hospital! It's the perfect traveling size. It's a very rich cream so you only need a little at a time. With the dryness in the air right now, the skin around my eyes are loving it. I've only been using it for a little over 2 weeks so I'm not sure it's doing anything for my dark circles but they definitely look hydrated and radiant. 

4. La Mer Creme de la Mer ($135 - $1650 USD): My first experience with this luxurious cream, my skin was not in the best shape. I actually had a reaction from a medicine at the time when I started using this. You can read about it here. This time around, my skin is pretty normal despite being on the drier side but can I tell you - I don't like this cream - I LOVE this cream! Why must my skin have expensive taste?? It's just what the doctor ordered. My skin soaks it right up and after my skin looks glowing. Again, it's a deluxe size and I'm trying to savour it as much as I can but I know it will be all gone by the time I'm out of the hospital. I'm sure once that happens, my skin will need less moisture. If you can afford it, it's a fabulous cream. My skin just looks so much smoother and and more luminous.

5. La Mer The Body Creme Tube ($130 USD): Can't forget about the body! I received a deluxe size in the tube form which is so compact and portable. Again, it leaves your skin unbelievably soft and supple. I rarely have to reapply throughout the day because it's so hydrating. It doesn't leave a greasy finish like most richer creams. It has a light scent, but disappears right away. 

What's the lesson here? Use expensive skin creams while you're in the hospital and you will feel like a super star! It really is a treat especially when all I have to look forward to is laying on my bed all day. I believe if you don't take care of your outer appearance, it will start to affect the way you feel on the inside. Since I can't control when the baby will come, this is one area of my life I know I can control!

Have you tried any of these products? Do you turn to beauty products to get you out of a funk? Stay tuned for How To Beat The Bed Rest Blues: Makeup post!

Products were sent for editorial consideration and I truly love them.

Beauty News: La Mer Partners With Oceana For World Oceans Day

Beauty products make us feel good and look good, but when beauty makes the world a better place indulging in your favourite products just feels right. If you live to frolic in our beautiful oceans and love all the amazing sea creatures that live and roam in our oceans, then we need to do a better job at protecting them. With companies leaking oil and radio active chemicals seeping into our oceans, the animals and our health are at risk.

La Mer has partnered with Oceana, the world's largest international ocean advocacy organization since 2005. In honour of the sea, La Mer has created a limited edition 100 ml World Oceans Day Creme in a commemorative ocean-inspired jar. In addition, La Mer will make a $200 000 donation to Oceana in support of their Habitat Protection Campaign as well as other global initiatives for ocean conservation.

La Mer, a luxury face cream, has become a cult classic all around the world. I had a little container of this rich cream and I was sad to see it go. It was perfect for my winter dry skin and left my face feeling unbelievably hydrated. If you can afford this pricey tub of goodness (unlike me), go out and buy one in support of our oceans.

For more information about World Oceans Day and the partnership between La Mer and Oceana, please visit www.lamer.com/oceana.

La Mer’s Limited-Edition 100 ml World Oceans Day Crème de la Mer will be available exclusively at Holt Renfrew in Canada: May and June 2011.

Suggested Retail Price: $420

Beauty Feature: Winterlicious Skin Products Put To the Test

The last week before Christmas I had come down with strep - pain killers and cold medicine were my best friend. Silly me forgot that cold medicine contains ibuprofen already but the pain was so excruciating I ended up taking Motrin - religiously every 4 hours.

Within 2 days, my face had swelled to a balloon and my skin had broken out into an itchy red rash! I had a severe reaction to the overdose of ibuprofen. I was beyond horrified and all this just before Christmas. I got on antibiotics and ditched the pain killers.

You can imagine my dilemma. Severely dehydrated, flaky and itchy skin. Thankfully I had a few moisturizers to choose from! Which one ended up on top? Read on!

1. Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre 24 Hr Miracle Cream: This is a makeup artist staple so obviously this was the first moisturizer I turned to. The formula is rich and creamy but for really dehydrated irritated skin it just didn't cut it. My skin still felt extremely tight and I was reapplying every half hour. The upside is that it did not irritate my skin further. If your skin is normally dry, it works just fine but not when your skin is in a crisis!

2. La Mer Creme de la Mer: I was ecstatic when I had found a travel size of this "miracle" cream in one of my bins. If you don't know the history, La Mer was created by aerospace physicist, Dr. Max Hubert, to help heal his chemical burns. The result was dramatically improved and smoothed skin.

If it could work on chemical burns, it had to work on my scarred flaky skin. Well, it was definitely more moisturizing than Embryolisse. It help rid of the flaky skin and improved the texture - even the scarring was starting to disappear. Yet, it did not completely get rid of the flakiness or tightness. I had to reapply every 2 hours.

3. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: This multi-purpose balm is a cult classic for a reason - it just works! This is the only cream that relieved my skin in all areas. I rarely ever use this because of the rich heavy texture, but my skin just drank it up. It feels a little heavy but once it sinks into the skin you don't even feel it.

Once I started applying day and night my skin quickly improved. After applying in the morning I didn't have to reapply until I washed my face at night. I didn't have to worry about embarrassing flaking skin when I was out - bonus! I also use this on my dry cracked hands and lips. I got over the flowery-medicinal smell - it's just worth it. A definite winter essential!

Have you tried these creams? What is your go-to winter essentials for chapped skin? Makeup Junkie wants to know!

Makeup Junkie Holiday Gift Guide 2008: The Gift of Great Skin

Having great skin is always on my list of wants and needs so why not be a doll and give it to your loved ones? Pamper them head-to-toe with these luxurious gift sets!

1. La Mer The Connoisseur Collection ($505 CAD): Alright, it's a little pricey but come on - it's La Mer! And when it comes to your skin you want only the best! This holiday pleaser includes Creme de la Mer (2 oz.) and The Eye Concentrate in a pearlized holiday box! The lucky person who receives this gift will be able to say goodbye to wrinkles and hello to a luminous future!

2. Ojon Tawaka - The White Ball ($65 USD): If you love Ojon for their hair care you'll love the brand for their skin care as well! This rich, decadent body cleansing and conditioning ball gives your skin a well-deserved treat! My skin is left soft, fresh and glowing! It also comes with a gorgeous tribal-inspired dark bowl for storage in the shower. Formulated without fragrance, artificial color, sulfates, silicones, or preservatives, "The White Ball" is a lavish luxury that suits all skin types.

3. Origins Extremely Green ($79.50 CAD): Give the gift of Green with this eco-conscious set! It includes Purifying Tonic to keep your skin clean and clear, Nourishing Face Lotion to soothe dry skin, Cleansing Body Bar and cotton bath mit to wash away impurities, and Silkening Body Spritz to hydrate skin. You just can't go wrong with gifts that are good for your skin and good for the environment!

Beauty Review: Luxurious La Mer Skincolor

When I think of La Mer, I think of the brand's cult classic Creme de la Mer moisturizing cream. Some have loathed it and others have called it the holy grail of anti-aging creams. I, however, have not tried this product simply because when I think of the women that use it, I picture glamorous ladies adorned in fur- with lots of money! When the opportunity came up to try La Mer's new Skincolor collection, I was more than eager to put this luxurious line to the test. The innovative line fuses skincare benefits and colour together, working continuously to improve the skin. The collection includes The Treatment Creme Foundation SPF 15, The Treatment Fluid Foundation SPF 15, and The Powder.

The Treatment Creme Foundation SPF 15 ($120 CDN 30 ml) inspired by Creme de la Mer, is described as a "rich souffle engineered with weightless color and La Mer's remarkable skincare benefits to transform the complexion. Gemstones capture light energy to create a translucent color palette, optically erasing imperfections to reveal a naturally flawless complexion...Blue Algae Lift Ferment adds radiance and continuously lifts the skin...dewy finish...".

Wow, I don't think I've ever tried a foundation this creamy! And as rich as it is, the foundation still feels light-weight on your skin. I chose the Tan shade and when I opened it I thought it may be too dark. But when I applied it to my skin, it blended in nicely matching it perfectly! My skin looked flawlessly AMAZING almost like I'd been airbrushed! The medium-full coverage provided a dewiness which is nice in certain areas but after a while I found my nose got a bit too shiny. I find using a mattifyer on the nose fixes the problem. It comes in a little jar and is accompanied with a convenient little spatula for scooping and keeping bacteria out. Only a tiny amount is needed or else you run the risk of looking too made up. Once the foundation settles, it looks like your natural skin but much better. The SPF protects the skin and doesn't irritate or itch - major plus for me. It also never caused my skin to break out. For dry or mature skin, this foundation is fantastic and will keep you looking youthful and radiant!

The Treatment Fluid Foundation SPF 15 ($110 CDN 30 ml) is a lighter liquid version of the creme foundation and is made with the same ingredients. This one suits my skin much better and has the same luminous effect but with a more natural finish. My nose doesn't shine like it does with the creme foundation. Although it is a liquid form, the texture is creamy and not runny (which is the only thing I dislike about Face Atelier's). The coverage can be light-full by layering until you reach your desired coverage. It is long-wearing, leaving you looking flawless from morning to night. Once on, you forget you're wearing foundation. It comes in a handy pump bottle and dispenses the right amount of foundation. Lovely foundation for those that like a natural, perfect complexion.
The Powder ($90 CDN 25g) is described as a "luxurious finishing powder so incredibly light it appears to float. Developed with symmetrically shaped, uniquely coated particles, it magnetically attracts to the skin for a perfect fit. Airspun seaborne particles - some of the lightest materials on earth - create an imperceptible finish that leaves the skin looking flawless...".

Every time I open this powder, I really do feel luxurious and glamorous! The packaging isn't adorned in gold or anything but the powder looks like crushed diamonds! It makes my skin look amazing and kind of melts into my skin. The powder finishes the makeup enhancing the overall radiance. It doesn't really mattify so those with oilier skin are probably better off using a matte powder. Included in the jar is the softest, most plush powder puff I've ever tried! Applied with the powder puff the coverage is heavier but with a powder brush it looks more natural. Sometimes I'll just rub the puff on my face for fun - may seem weird but it feels amazing!

Overall, I'm really impressed with La Mer Skincolor. My skin always has a gorgeous, airbrushed glow and I always get compliments on my skin whenever I wear the products. I've resorted to only using it on "special occasions" because once it runs out it may be a while before I can get my hands on them again! If you are a Creme de la Mer fan, you'll certainly be happy with Skincolor. Skincare and makeup can sometimes be huge investments so if you are going to dish out a lot of money I recommend sampling the products before committing. There are less expensive brands that have the same effectiveness but don't have the same skincare benefits La Mer Skincolor offers. I personally have become a fan and if I have the money in the future it'll definitely be a must-have on my beauty list! Have you tried Skincolor? Love it? Hate it? Happy shopping!

The Skincolor range is available at Holt Renfrew across Canada.