Desperately seeking Chanel gel eye pads...

Many years ago I went to a special event in Beverly Hills and just prior I had a fantastic facial at a great Beverly Hills hotel spa.   This hotel has a separate wing which hosts stars who have just had "work" done.   I was staying at the other side of the hotel but used the spa services because I figured they must know what they are doing!

They gave me complimentary Gel eye pads by Chanel.   I put them on my eyes for about 20 minutes before the event.    The package claimed it would plump you up with collagen.   I remember being completely surprised by the results and how my wrinkles disappeared!  I'd give anything to find those puppies again.  I tried an internet search but it was so many years ago and no one seems to know what I'm talking about.  If anyone out there's knows or has a great eye pad recommendation to use prior to a special event I'd be grateful and happily discuss it on this forum if it works!

The best smelling, softest feeling indulgent body lotion ever

I can't stop buying Archipelago's Sugar Lotion for body.   It's the scent of brown sugar and vanilla and lasts forever (another never ending bottle if you ask me).   My husband LOVES IT and I love the non-greasy easy spreading lotion for my legs and arms.   Sometimes I just put it in the guest room so people can feel spoiled.   I don't know a single guest who hasn't bought a product from this company after staying at my home and having the Sugar Lotion experience.  The description boasts that it provides alpha hydroxy acids and natural antioxidants.  This is an indulgent product (averages about $25 for 15 fl oz) but you'll never regret the scent that comes from your soft and supple hands.  Sweet sugar baby!

An SPF for every day with UVA/UVB protection that's an amazing moisturizer!

Sonya Dakar's 365 SPF 30 Sunscreen.  I keep this in my purse at all times.  In fact, I have many tubes and keep them in my car, purse, travel bag and at home.  It's a fantastic light weight SPF moisturizer that has an amazing light scent of lavender and orange.  I can still add my make-up on top without it feeling thick.  It's SPF 30 with UVA/UVB protection and my dermatologist approves it for sun protection.   I have a tendency to get discoloration on my face and hyper pigmentation and I am always confident leaving the house with this protecting me against the effects of the sun. I have tried other face SPF's and there is nothing I like more than this product.     www.sonyadakar.com

For that Refreshed look! Makes your eyes oh so bright!

I love Benefit make up.   I love products that can enhance your appearance but it doesn't look like you're wearing any make up.   Eye Bright is something I've had make up artists use on the ridge of my eye or inside my eye lid to have me look awake.   I've definitely noticed a difference on film when they do it.  They call it a nap in a stick.  I certainly agree with that.  I use it in the corner of my eye, or down the middle of my nose (blended) as a highlighter and just under my brow bone.  I use it day or night and keep it in my cosmetic bag for touch ups.    www.sephora.com

An eye cream from the fountain of youth?

I have many eye creams in my beauty basket and tend to rotate them but I keep going back to: 

Lift & Lighten Eye Cream.

It's a product line I use a lot of items from and this eye cream is the bomb!  I can't explain what it does that is so amazing other than my surprise every time I use it how well it absorbs in to my eye area, it's not heavy or greasy and feels amazing going on.   I can't prove to you it reduces my wrinkles but I must tell you that I have never used an eye cream that has me feel like I see results right away.   This is a product where I am utterly convinced it helps me be the best version of myself and delivers the results it states.   As a test before I wrote this blog, I put it on my face after a night of alcohol, white foods, salty items and seriously, the best looking part about me today is my eye area!  Wow. I have a problem with getting those little white dots on my lid from some products and I've noticed NONE since I've used this product.   www.mdskincare.com

The other amazing thing about Dr. Gross' products is how long his items last, it's like the never ending bottle of the fountain of youth.  I keep thinking I must be near the end of this little bottle's life and I get weeks and weeks more of product coming out!   He's one of my doctors (yes, I have many and I do rotate my dermatologists from Canada, L.A. and New York).   There are a lot of his products I really love but I love switching it up too much to stick with one line.  

Tried and true. Oh sweet concealer, I love you.

Ladies, ladies, ladies, this by FAR is the best under eye concealer I have ever tried, made by Chanel.  In fact, I have literally waited 7 weeks to get this at the Chanel counter after a desperate attempt looking everywhere in Manhattan and New Jersey because it's no longer a secret.   I buy it 3-4 at a time now and I suggest you do the same (but promise me you won't charge it on the card babes, it IS a recession you know).

It is in pen form, my fav is Medium 02, it has a wonderful brush and the color and texture blends amazingly.  The best money I've ever spent.   Eliminates my dark circles in an instant.  Luminates and reflects and I swear it takes years off my face!

It's called...get ready, 

This product is a Highlighter Face Pen.   Whatever that means, I don't care, what I know is that I use this pen under my eye, I still blend with my fingers and BAM, I lose my dark circles in seconds without any creases, crinkles or it looking like concealer.   Trust me on this one!

This makes my skin feel amazingly hydrated, an amazing secret...no more!

I learned about Babor when I did several facials in Los Angeles in preparation for an event.  I had been flying back and forth from Vancouver to New York and L.A. and my skin felt very dry.  I soon learned it wasn't dry but rather was de-HYDRATED and there's a difference people!  And the magic ingredient to repair is called Hydra Plus Fluid by Babor.  

One of these capsules is the bomb babes!  These ampules come in little glass containers, you break the top open and place the fluid in the palm of your hand.   You proceed to pat your face until it absorbs, often you can cover your face twice with just one ampule.  It feels like water so be careful pouring it in to your hand - don't want spillage with this fountain of youth product.   It instantly feels like your skin is drinking the product and I've noticed a significant difference in my skins texture when using it.  In fact, if I run out and haven't used it for a while I will notice my skin doesn't seem as elastic and supple and I'll realize it's because I've been neglecting using these babies and I'll order them up again!   I find them especially rewarding to use after having a peel or microdermabrasion as my skin just drinks it up.   

I buy these directly online from www.Babor.com because they often have fantastic samples that come with it, free shipping after $75 purchase.   In fact, they've often sent as "samples" a normal size of the product.  Sometimes 2-3 or more that they will send along with your purchase and I've tried their facial cleansers, foaming moisturizer and self tanning fluid and some of these products have lasted me over six months - and they were FREE samples!   I don't know if that's a shipping accident or what, but I'm always delighted about what else is in the box!   

Babor has many other ampules available too and I've tried them all.  I am sure they all work wonders but this one in particular has helped me the most and it's the best price for the quantity.   You get 14 ampules instead of 7.   If it's too expensive for you to use on a regular basis, it is great for a pick me up before a big event, during a long plane ride, after a weekend of drinking and too much restaurant food and especially before a screen test or big film day.

Note to the environmentally conscious - the shipping comes with those styrofoam peanuts that piss me off but I called them and they won't change it because many of their products are very breakable.