My first luxury facial in a Parisian spa...

Ok so you may not remember but when I talked about my new haircut a month ago, I was initially going there for a facial. And I have never given you my opinion on it (bad me...).
When I left my previous work, my colleagues offered me a gift card for a half day in a spa and I chose one which offers a facial and a hair diagnosis (shampoo and cut only). I ended up going for more than that but no regrets at all :)

Where did I go? Right here :
Isn't it gorgeous (hum waterlilies)? The place is named la maison de beauté (=house of beauty) Roméo et Juliette in Paris (7th area).

I am not used to this hype kind of places so I was a bit reluctant to step inside at first. But I did it and I am so glad I did.
The first thing I noticed was the estheticians, all tall, blonde-hair girls with black suits and red lips.They all have gorgeous skin which makes me feel very confident about the facial quality :p. I felt a little like a ugly little duck in there... The place's design is modern but cosy and everything is perfectly clean.
I was asked first to sit in a huge leather coach and given a tone of magazines to read. My esthetician came in the next 5 minutes and took me to my room and asked me to remove all my tops. A very peaceful music was playing in there, not too loud. And then the facial begun : slow and delicate makeup removal, first massage, then scrub, mask, second massage, serum, moisturiser, third massage including the scalp. It was so pleasant that I felt asleep :p
After the facial, I had all my time to redress and remake up if I wanted to. I looked truly exhausted which means that the massages worked well on removing all the toxins ^^. I was offered a tea with biscuits and advices on which skincare to use. Then I went to the hair salon and got the haircut you had already seen.

I found everyone's behaviour very professional without being over commercial. They offered you to buy some of the skincare they used during the facial but they did not insist. I was a bit sceptical about the service's quality as I was coming with a gift box and not a real reservation but I was wrong. They do not seem to care about me looking like a poor student which is not always the case in Paris.
I definitely recommend this spa but it is expensive. From time to time you may deserve it anyway.

See ya :)

Le lait crème concentré fluide hydratant (Hydrating fluid) from Embryolisse

Ready for an other review, beloved reader? So here we go! My tonight discovery is a huge surprise and a very good one as for once it is a quite cheap stuff. It is very versatile which makes it even better. Do you wonder what I am talking about? Check the post title :p.

What do I think about it? I have to reckon tha packaging may not be as fancy as the ones from YSL but you have to remind never to judge a book by its cover. This stuff rocks! First, because it comes with a handy pump which means no greasy fingers and hence no bacteria in there... This is the fluid version but you may no the famous creme version called the "Lait-crème concentré" that comes in an aluminium tube. The only difference between those two is the texture. It smelles hardly nothing. It can be used for absolutely everything: as a make up remover (not for my eyes but for the rest of the face), as a facial cleanser, as a full body moisturizer (face included), as an after-sun soother, as an after-shave for those misters and even as a baby cream! The composition is OK, not organic (mineral oil in there) but no more parabenes if they freak you out.

Does it work? Oh yeah and better than that. It is my travel new best friend. I know a 500ml bottle does not really look travel-friendly but it is so multifunctional that you just need to bring it with you and that is it. Nearly all your skincare including body moisturizer in one. The best deal ever :). It does not feel greasy and absorbs straight onto your skin. You can coat your face in a thik layer of it every night to plump and restore your face without breaking your wallet. Is not life great???

Do I recommend it? Yes and for the price it will be a shame not to give it a go. It is safe for every skin type. For dry to extra dry skin, maybe the cream version will be better but the fluid will definitely be a keeper for hotter summer time.

Price: 16,30€ by Embryolisse official website. In Europe, it can be find in chemist's or drugstore.

A very good friend of mine swears by this and when you see her skin you are convinced that it works great. And if you do not like it it can be used as a body moisturiser so harldy no risk :p. I have not tried any other stuffes form this brand but I may dig in for more :p

See ya :)

In and out... February 2010

I know it is March already but I do not post on Sundays so I have no other choice :p. And I am not one of a kind to do things before the ultimate deadline. Anyhow here it is :

Ins :
- being able to fight quickly pimples with my Mario Badescu squad.
- realising how nicely my skin has improved within the past year. Last year pictures are frightening :s
- using my blue tin of Nivea cream as a miracle remedy for everything (dry cuticles, coarse elbows and kneet, for my cracked feet and as a moisture-lock mask for the face)
- cheating on my skin every night by applying more moisutriser that I used to. It feels exactly the same way than when I use a hydrating mask. Good trick for me (and cheaper héhéhé)
- how microdermabrasion has improved my skin texture and my acne scars

Outs :
- the horrid weather
- hazards of life which can be so painful (I know it sounds stupid but...)
- killing 2 nail polishes because of not closing them tight enough.
- being stucked at home for job-hunting
- and as a result, still being unemployed (jeez hope it will end soon)
- the Lash Injection mascara from Too Faced (crap, crap, crap do I say it is crap???)

Your turn!
See ya :)