Embryolisse Skincare
Lait-Creme Concentre
*Known to makeup insiders as the "24 Hour Miracle". But I hear you skeptics, and you're right, it is a pretty large claim for such a reasonable price (it's actually less expensive than high end drug store brands).
So here's the inside scoop - when you need a furiously fast flaky face fixer-upper, Lait-Creme Concentre magically transforms scaly, dehydrated skin into a visibly softer, smoother complexion (just like that insanely expensive Creme De La What-cha-ma-call-it). It's formulated to soothe and correct by mimicking and reinforcing the natural surface oils and waterproofing barrier of the skin, slowing down moisture evaporation. It's also a makeup artist lifesaver for quickly correcting peeling, sunburned skin.
More Miracles: Lait-Creme multi-tasks as a perfect gentle makeup remover and a super soother for post shaving irritation.
Dermalogica
Active Moist
*Dermalogica is at every Pro trade show these days and is popping up in A LOT of makeup kits. Good reason, they make products that address our needs. I must admit, even though Blenderella is an admitted Product Whore, the sheer magnitude of choices at Dermalogica had me dizzy ...but Active Moist is the stand-out product for makeup artists.
This lightweight, oil-free moisturizer absorbs without a trace, creating an invisible barrier against moisture loss, creating the ideal environment for oilier skins that tend to become dehydrated. And just so nobody would feel left out, they added silk proteins plus extracts of sage and cucumber to calm and hydrate the most sensitive skin. Ding, ding ding...we have a winner on our hands!
Olay Regenerist
Micro-Sculpting Cream
*An award winning luxury cream ...from the Oil Of Olay folks ...sitting on the same drugstore shelf? Hard to believe, but all the hi-tech ingredients in "serious skincare" (amino-peptides, marine proteins, etc) are packed into this little jar. It firms and smoothes the the skin's surface immediately. Long range effects?...who cares, I need it to work now and at a wallet loving price.
Afraid of showing drugstore brands in your kit? Just transfer it into another container and tell talent it's the "expensive" stuff" (they'll never know the difference).
Kiehl's
Ultra Facial & Sodium PCA Oil-Free Moisturizer
*Skip the gazillion "new' products Kiehl's has introduced in the last couple of years ...these moisturizers have been pro artist staples and still deliver the goods. No high end technology, no claims of making you look 10 years younger...just great, basic moisturizers at a reasonable price.
So what's so good about them?
Ultra features an emollient extract from olives (squalane) which mimics the skin's protective natural surface oils (lipids) and the Sodium PCA preps skin with a significant boost in hydration without addition oils. Both absorb quickly and easily so skin is ready for makeup application almost immediately.
You know how much we love a TIME SAVER!
REN
Bio-Active Moisturizers
*Ever have someone sit in the makeup chair who insists on 'natural and/or vegan' products only? There haven't been many high quality choices - until now. REN is quickly becoming the Holy Grail of luxury natural/vegan skincare.
They specialize in 'Clean Products' that don't contain synthetic fragrances or colors, petrochemicals,
sulfates,
parabens or animal ingredients.
Vita-Mineral Day Cream is perfect for normal to dry skin and uses trace elements (copper, magnesium, zinc), vitamin A, vitamin F, and vitamin P in a synergistic blend to tone, firm, relax fine lines, and create a natural luminosity. REN's "GPC" (Global Protection Complex) adds powerful antioxidants.
Matte Balancing Fluid is ideal for controlling oily, shiny skin. Glucomannan helps to disperse oil while Mayblossom extract and salicilin decongest and help to normalize excess sebum (oil) production. Bisabolol and blue cypress essential oil calm the skin while REN's Global Protection Complex delivers powerful antioxidants.
Perricone MD
Face Finishing Moisturizer
*Dr. Perricone is an anti-aging genius, but when someone sits in the makeup chair they need to look good, now...not in a few weeks!
Let me introduce you to his immediate action moisturizing overachiever. It's packed with high octane anti-oxidents, firming ingredients and super hydrators to give skin an instant glow and smoothness. The marvelous multi-tasker is also a perfect pre-makeup prep...even under eyes. This is where serious skincare makes sense in our kit...this stuff delivers when you need the help!
(MALIN+GOETZ)
Face Moisturizer
*Although the packaging looks mighty basic, the high-performance product inside is definitely not! The entire line was created with the intent to simplify skincare (by a former marketing/product developer at Kiehl's).
The Face Moisturizer is a perfect cocktail of highly absorbent fatty acids, fatty alcohols and amino acids, blended with Vitamin E and B5 for intense, lightweight, calming skin nourishment.
These "fatty" acids and alcohols are oil-free (how'd they do that?), so the formula is appropriate for ALL skin types...ain't science grand!
Korres
Quercetin and Oak Day Cream
*Korres seems to be the perfect balance between technology and nature when it comes to 'natural' skincare. They use the latest hi-tech bio actives, lipids and extracts and do it without skin-unfriendly synthetic ingredients. The targeted formulas boost skin’s natural ability to protect, repair and renew itself (you know I love "self-help" anything).
The Oak Day Cream is a superior all-around firming moisturizer (the guys like the lightweight, un-sticky feeling) and leaves the skin in prime condition for makeup application.
Graftobian
OxyDerm Moisturizer
*Finally, a Pro makeup company has come up with a skincare product that isn't an afterthought. This stuff actually works! OxyDerm can be used on all skin types and has some awesome skincare benefits.
Let's see ...silicone to smooth and fill in fine lines, shea butter to deeply soften and heal, hyuralonic acid to attract moisture, grape seed extract as a powerful antioxidant (about 50x more powerful than vitamin E) and a host of other natural and botanical ingredients to make skin look firmer and more radiant. Sounds like some pretty serious skincare to me!
L'Occitane
Pure Shea Butter
*A powerful moisturizing balm extracted from the fruit of African Shea trees which is renowned for it's intense softening, soothing and comforting of the skin. It's a little bit of magic when applied to dry patches around the eyes and sore, cracked lips.
Massively Multi-Tasking Tin: It's a fantastic conditioning pomade for the hair, amazing stretchmark wrangler for moms-to-be, a super softener for cuticles, elbows, knees, heels...the list goes on and on.
Kiehl's
Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50+
*Why do they call this "Super Fluid"? Very Simple ...
- It prevents up to 90% of skin aging (including lines and wrinkles), uneven texture and tone, breakdown of collagen and elastin, brown spots (do I need to go on?)
- It's Oil-free, ultra-lightweight texture delivers a UV filtering system that combines patented photo-stabilized technology with long-lasting broad-spectrum protection.
- It deliver outstanding protection against UVA & UVB rays on the skin’s surface, but feels absolutely weightless.
Philosophy Skincare
When Hope Is Not Enough
*You know how much Blenderella LOVES multi-tasking products, but is it possible to be everything to everyone? In a word - YES! Talk about one stop shopping - this stuff does it all in one tube. This is targeted age defense using broad spectrum sun protection blended with super skin hydrators, powerful peptides and cutting-edge antioxidants. It is the ultimate all-in-one anti-aging moisturizer/sunscreen combo …and it works beautifully under makeup!
SkinCeuticals
Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50
*A state of the art formula that offers complete protection in an ultra-sheer texture for all skin types, even very sensitive. The paraben-free, mattifying fluid avoids the pasty white look usually associated with SPF at this level thanks to the revolutionary Z-COTE® transparent zinc oxide.
Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50® offers the photoprotection of broad-spectrum, physical filters and is enhanced by artemia salina, a plankton extract, to increase the skin’s defenses and resistance to UV and heat stress.
Oh...and it doesn't disturb makeup application - BRILLIANT!!!
CeraVe
Moisturizing Lotion AM with SPF 30
*Not sure how they fit this kind of technology in a drugstore product...but who cares if it works!
CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion AM features micronized zinc oxide and broad spectrum sunscreen actives (homosalate, octinoxate and octocrylene) which deflect UVA and UVB rays from the sun and other sources of UV radiation (like computer screens and fluorescent lights).
The ceramide-rich formula has essential ingredients to maintain a healthy skin barrier plus MVE® time-release technology. So, while CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion AM with SPF 30 is protecting from the sun, it’s also restoring the skin’s outer lipid layer which is responsible for holding in moisture. All this - for under $15???
Murad
Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30
*Murad is packing some super powered protection against environmental damage. We know that UVA/UVB protection is important, but anti-oxident protection is just as critical - especially when you have talent outdoors in urban pollution. Next generation Vitamin C anti-oxidents and a patented Skin Repair System improve skin's radiance, firmness and elasticity immediatley. Phospholipids and conditioners provide hydration while Ectoin optimizes skin's barrier function, reducing moisture loss.
Peter Thomas Roth Skincare
Instant Mineral and Uber-Dry Sunscreen
*PTR brings it with TWO (2) amazing sun products that are perfect for the makeup kit.
First is Uber-Dry, a technological marvel that is extra light-weight, water resistant and leaves an invisible veil of SPF30 that is undetectable to the touch for stable makeup application.
Second is
the Instant Mineral powder, which works immediately to block out UVA/UVB/Infared rays. Super finely milled mineral powder is ideal for all skin types and all skin tones. You can brush this right over a finished makeup, the Mineral Silica absorbs excess oil to keep the skin looking fresh, but not dry or powdery.
Neutrogena
Spectrum+ Advanced Sunblock
*So you need intense suncare...but that usually means suffocating thick products that totally destabilize our makeup work!
Spectrum+ uses breakthrough Helioplex360™ technology which provides crazy levels of protection along with 'Dry-Touch technology' for an super-duper-light, non-shiny finish.
Fast-absorbing, water-proof, sweatproof and enriched with anti-oxidants to help prevent environmental damage...Heavy Duty sun protection has never acted like such a light-weight!
Dermalogica
Solar Defense Booster SPF 50
*Dermalogica seems to really understand the pro's needs for multi-purpose products. This broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection formula is ideal for use against sun damage and hyperpigmentation, is suitable for ALL skin types, and best of all -
Solar Defense Booster SPF 50 can be mixed with any moisturizer or makeup primer for customized sun protection. VERY COOL!