The Three Masketeers: Three Gorgeous face masks for three different purposes

I love face masks. I have tried many and have struggled to find different ones that work for my skin for different purposes. I have come to a conclusion about face masks and they come in three for me.

Cleansing mask

Exfoliating mask

and Moisturizing Mask

Cleansing mask: 

This is the type for everyday uses. You can use cleansing masks as often as two-three times a week. Clay masks are a type of cleansing masks. Great for clogged skin, combination skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin or just anyone who lives in polluted areas.

Cleansing mask of my choice is Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque.

It is a lightweight clay mask that dries to a hard finish. Cleans the pores like no other without making my poor winter-weathered dry skin uncomfortable.

Exfoliating mask:

Exfoliating masks can be enzyme-based or chemical-based. Most common are AHA (such as Glycolic or Lactic Acid) or BHA (such as Salicylic Acid) based. These can get your pores ultra clean and help with lightening the hyper-pigmentation or dullness. Could get tingling sensation and a bit of redness but it will pass. You should not use it in the morning because it will make your skin too sensitive to the sun. But amazing for night time use so the next day you can look glowing in the morning.

REN Glycolactic Renewal Mask

Quite an intense exfoliating mask with both Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid. I only use it once a week and I believe it keeps my skin problems at bay such as hyper-pigmentations and blemishes. 

and Moisturizing Mask:

This is the type of masks for dry, sensitive, and/or dehydrated skin. Great to use anytime such as night before a big event or in the morning. And Unlike other masks that need to be washed off, you can keep it on through the night. 

Galénic Argan Oil Extreme Comfort Mask

(from French Pharmacies)

Good but not the best. One that I would recommend is Origins moisturizing mask with Apricot oil. I have very dry skin and I usually wear it as a sleep mask when I go to bed.

Catherine xx

Flea Marketing in Paris: Porte de Clignancourt Review

Porte de Clignancourt in Paris. Pretty lousy near the metro station, but go through Marché Dauphine which is a large indoor market and to the back and you might find some gems
Marché Dauphine in Porte de Clignancourt has a diverse selection of goods, not the best place for good price, but it surely is a cool place to check out if you like old things.

Good if you collect old prints and old photos and love doing DIY projects.
And good selection of various furniture and trinkets, a bit on the expensive side.
If you like very nice and expensive vintage dresses,
there are a few stores in the back of the indoor market.

I hope you enjoyed this brief review on the flea market and more Paris stories to come.
Catherine xx

Spring Makeup: Dior Purchase & Dark Nails for Spring?

Not too long ago, I have purchased a few Dior bits and they are gorgeous and perfectly spring appropriate. It isn't really very spring-like in New York yet, so it really is more of a preparation, but one can only hope for warmer weather to show up soon.

Dior blush in 656 Coral Croisette

Dior Vernis in 970 Nuit 1947

 The blush is beautiful and definitely a perfect spring color. 

Good mixture of pink and orange, as all good coral blush should be. 

The nail polish is surprisingly wonderful for spring. 

It is quite dark yet it has very nice warm purple undertones that can be seen in daylight.

 Left to Right
Top row: NARS Deep Throat, Chantecaille The Coral Reefs Palette
Bottom row: Dior blush in 656 Coral Croisette, NARS Orgasm

Left to Right
NARS Deep Throat
Chantecaille The Coral Reefs Palette, 
Dior blush in 656 Coral Croisette
NARS Orgasm
It seems to me that the dior blush is most similar to the notorious Nars Orgasm, but less shimmery. But all four of these coral blushes are lovely and wearable.

Dior Nuit 1947

Chanel 563 Vertigo

Kure Bazaar Chérie

Some of my favorite dark nailpolishes. 

I wish I had swatches of all of them but for now we will admire the Nuit 1947 swatch below.

Dior Nuit 1947 in action:

with a selection of colorful macarons from Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki 

and who knew that dark nail polish can look great along with bright colors!

More muted / dark nail ideas from Net-A-Porter

If you know any gorgeous dark colors still appropriate for the warmer weather, do share.

Catherine xx

Revival In Order: Paris and More.

I have been gone for a while. A few years ago, I started this blog with the vague idea that I would collect images and such that interest me and compile them in a neat way. 

Since then I have lived in Paris for a little bit and now I am back in New York. 

I want to blog bits from my time in Paris in all its glory and commemorate what I can, before my memory really fades. I hope to blog and review beauty items, especially fragrances. 

I had some beautiful moments and they will never come back, 

but I can try to hold on to them just a little longer. 

I plan to upload regularly and I hope you all come back for some more.

Catherine xx

From Paris With Love

From Paris With Love

Yves Saint Laurent

Beauty Sleep from the Top Secrets Line

This number is a must-try for people that travel a lot, especially those who have sleepless nights. This is supposedly a serum for those nights after long days, or the morning after. It is a very light weight serum that rejuvenates skin elasticity and the appearance of the skin by micro exfoliating, and it even contains a little salicilic acid for those prone to breakouts, like me. 

Gel Liner in Cherry Black

The liner is quite wonderful. I have not been using gel liner for a long time, but I feel like this put me back in love with gel liner. 

Beaute Matt Touch Compact Foundation

Slightly darker than what I would have usually gone for, I feel that I can probably pull it off well in the summer, but this has a great lasting power on your skin with great coverage.

The V Man was edited by Carine Roitfeld, the beloved ex-editor of French Vogue. This is the first volume of V Man I have received in the mail, although I have been subscribed to V magazine for a while. Although I am a first time reader, I can certainly recommend this for those gentlemen with passion for fashion and all else that pertains to life.

Thanks for reading,

xx.

Cathy

When a girl can truly rest: Bobbi Brown Skincare + Audrey Hepburn Eye Mask!

 I made a small purchase from Bobbi Brown Skincare line. 

Bobbi Brown

The Extra Eye Repair Cream,

Brightening Hydrating Lotion (essentially a toner)

and a little sample of Vitamin Enriched Face Base

The eye cream is as wonderful as reviewed by All That Glitters and MissGlamorazi from Youtube, 

deeply moisturizing and smoothing.

The Hydrating lotion is a great replacement to my Chanel Whitening nano-lotion (a great brightening toner). For my dry skin with pigmentation problem, this is a life saver after a long day and as the last step for thorough cleansing.

And with the eye mask that can put any girl to sleep, even the beauty of the century, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

I purchased it from Mary Green and it is the softest silk eye mask I have ever owned. Now I need to get my hands on the violet fringe ear plugs!

All that it takes to appease me or any girl I suppose:

Some Laduree Macaron, a good night's sleep, and wonderful eye cream!

Thanks for reading

xx

Cathy

Birthday Gift+Shopping Spree

Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color 

#54 Sunrise

My current crush on creamy lipsticks:

Nars Roman Holiday

Dior Rose Innocence

B.Brown Sunrise

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX04

Tracie Martyn Enzyme Exfoliant

The exfoliant has a distinctive scent, which is very refreshing and quite enjoyable.

Unlike other exfoliants, you can leave it on your face for about 15 minutes. 

I actually prefer it to the ExfoliKATE from Kate Somerville.

And finally my beloved got me a bottle of a Kilian Perfume in 

Liaisons Dangereuse "Typical Me"

Notes are as described below according to Bergdorf Goodman, but I purchased it from the wonderful perfume land of Aedes De Venustas in Downtown Greenwich area.

http://www.aedes.com/:

"Rich and complex, this fragrance has the heady charm of alcoholic vapours. At the heart of the fragrance, the floral breath of Egyptian Geranium is warmed by Cinnamon from Ceylon. Sandalwood from India structures the composition, which reaches fruition in a bouquet of sensuous musk notes."

However, this description does not include the very deep fruit note, that is a juicy plummy note.

 And of course, Bvlgari Pellegrino and White Roses are necessary components of proper celebration.

Thanks for reading, 

xx.

Cathy