Press Samples & Purchased by me (Unaffiliated Links)
A couple of readers emailed me to ask what new beauty oils I was currently testing out, and I thought that I would do a post to share four of my new luxury oil loves. It will be a little while before you see my full reviews since I need to use each of these twinkling jewels longer, but I can tell you that each one is a true treasure.
African Botanics Pure Marula Oil ($80.00 for 2 oz): Pure Marula Oil is a cold pressed, weightless, anti-aging botanical oil sourced from the remote pristine areas of South Africa's Marula Belt. Concentrated with powerful antioxidants, vitamins C + E that help cells renew, resist and protect against free radical damage. Exceptionally high in Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 9 & Omega 6) that deeply hydrate skin and reduce redness while protecting against the elements. Softens the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, increases skin elasticity, plumps and revitalizes your complexion.
Ideal as an anti-aging moisturizer or as a serum booster on all skin types all year round. Super fine in texture it stimulates healthy collagen production leaving supple, dewy and deeply nourished skin. Can be used alone, layered or added to your existing beauty products to boost their efficacy.
African Botanics Pure Marula Oil is a gloriously lightweight and fast absorbing oil that deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin. It plumps fine lines and gives skin a pronounced luminosity. This is luxury oil perfection!
Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil ($235.00): Black Rose Precious Face Oil is Sisley’s first skin care oil for dry or mature skin. With a high concentration of active ingredients, this silky-smooth dry oil prepares, and nourishes with an anti-aging effect.
Rich in omega 3 and 6, it prepares the skin to receive its daily skin care. This oil provides the essential elements for the skin’s vitality and youthfulness with its powerful blend of plant-based active ingredients that nourish, regenerate and protect (Padina pavonica, unsaponifiables of avocado and natural tocopherols). Plum and camelina oils maintain the lipid balance of the epidermis.
Black Rose extract lies at the heart of the formula and lends a wonderful silky softness. It is combined with essential oils of Bulgarian rose and magnolia, which have toning and soothing properties for a delicious awakening of the senses.
Visibly smooths wrinkles and fine lines, and revitalizes the skin for a radiant complexion.
Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil is an amazing dry oil that is formulated to nourish dry and/or mature skin. While I neither have dry, not mature skin-- I find this to be a miraculous performer! My skin feels like velvet whenever I use this antioxidant rich anti-aging powerhouse luxury oil. Skin is left toned and lifted and fine lines are softened. The scent is a gorgeous refined rose that is intoxicatingly beautiful-- it's so beautiful, in fact, that I periodically find myself opening the bottle to just smell its magnificence! It leaves skin with a noteworthy glow, and it is so nourishing and moisturizing that skin is radically transformed into its best version of itself!
Aesop Fabulous Face Oil ($57.00): A daily moisturizing botanical oil for normal, dull or congested skin. Nine carefully selected botanicals deliver exceptional hydrating and fortifying benefits to detoxify, smooth and balance normal or patchy skin, with a non-greasy finish. Suited to all seasons, cities and skin types.
Aesop Fabulous Face Oil is a very nourishing skin that not only leaves skin beautifully balanced and hydrated, bit the pronounced aromatherapeutic qualities of the very detectable Ylang Ylang is very soothing and relaxing to the spirit. This is a really lovely beauty oil that is a great find when you want to slip into a restful slumber at bedtime!
evanhealy Argan Intensive Facial Serum ($29.95): Featuring precious and exotic essential oils of ancient Sandalwood, night blooming Jasmine & Sacred Frankincense from Oman. Our Serum’s exceptional regenerative action comes from hand-pressed, certified organic argan oil exclusively produced by the small, self-governed Berber Women’s Co-Operatives of Morocco. Rich in saponins, Argan Intensive Facial Serum works to soften the skin and to minimize the appearance of brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles.
evanhealy Argan Intensive Facial Serum is a lovely blend of Sandalwood, Night Jasmine and Sacred Frankincense, and their lovely combination treats the skin and the senses. I first experienced this lovely oil during my Luminescence Facial with Joan Uemura Shure (reviewed here), and I loved it so much that I ran right out and bought it!
You will be hearing a great deal more about all four of these oils, but I will say without reservation that they are all quite amazing!
Copyright © 2014 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.
I'll keep my eyes peeled for the review of the Sisley Black Rose Oil - I'd never spend that much on myself, but if it's really good I may think about it for my mum for the holidays. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Kimmy! The Sisley Black Rose Oil is definitely a sublime beauty! If you buy it for your mom-- you will have to try it! I can already tell that I REALLY LOVE it! What a great gift this would be!!! :-)
DeleteAbsolutely wonderful. You are the luxury oil goddess. Do you think you can put up a top 10 and rank them now that you have amassed a considerable archive of beauty oils? I tried to buy an evanhealy serum yesterday but I had to subscribe and I don't like doing that :(
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to read the long version of these wonderful mini reviews. I am already tempted. Your last posts are terrible! I just want everything pretty much with no regards for need or space. Many hugs darling.
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Hi sweetie! These are definitely really really lovely oils-- no question. Remind me to do a top 10 list in about a month after I have used some of these longer. I'm pretty sure that many of these will make that list by then! I can tell you already that the Sisley and African Botanics oils shown above are very likely contenders in a top 10 list!
DeleteDo you have a Whole Foods nearby? They sell evanhealy as does Pharmaca-- plus I will be giving away a Pharmaca Gift card soon-- so stay tuned because it would definitely pay for most of of an evanhealy oil!
Sorry that my last Lust List posts have caused you so much temptation!! <3 I know the feeling-- I, too, am suffering from the "I wants!" Much love to you too! xoxox
To me, this really begs the question: What is the difference between the top dollar item and the lower priced items? And, is the difference in the actual products worth the price differential? Because of you, I now own three face and two body oils. Not sure if, or why, I need more. Is there really a difference between them and do they target different aspects of skincare?
ReplyDeleteHi cpl100,
DeleteWhat a great question!
Well, I love many face oils, and I personally have favorites at a variety of price points. Based upon my experience, I would say that there are excellent as well as mediocre face oils at both ends of the price spectrum. What separates great oils from poor ones is the quality of the raw materials used, the efficacy of the combination of oils chosen, and their ability to absorb quickly enough to be effective. Each of the individual oils selected is done so because of particular properties that they possess-- for instance some have anti-inflammatory ingredients, others are antioxidant rich that are fantastic for anti-aging serums, while others have clarifying properties that are perfect for oily or acne prone skin, etc. I think that the only way to really compare the efficacy of lower and higher priced face oils is to pick a couple with the same basic ingredients and not only test their claims, but also test them out on your skin to see how well each one performs. However, there is also the subjective response that each of us has to the textures and scents of each of the oils being evaluated-- I may love the texture and scent of one that may be off-putting to someone else.
I guess ultimately the issue becomes how well you feel a particular oil with a luxury price tag performs compared to one with a moderate price tag to determine whether the disparity in price is justified based on their respective performance. I don't think that all oils are created equally-- particularly so now since every company out there seems to be launching their own oils given the current popularity of oils in general. Do you need more than what you already have? Of course not, but it's more an issue of whether or not you want to try out a larger variety. For me it is not an issue of needing any more than I already have, but I continue to try more oils because I love oils so much, and because I want to see, feel and experience oils that I am compelled by. Additionally, advances in skincare technology send ripples through the whole of the industry, and impact the way that products are made.
Different oils (or specifically the combinations of oils selected for each marketed beauty oil) are absolutely selected to target different concerns-- some are created for very dry skin and would likely break out people with combination skin-- or simply be far too rich. Others are targeted for people with combination skin and may have balancing and clarifying properties, and would likely not provide enough moisture. There are those that are targeted at anti-aging, while others are only intended to moisturize the skin. So yes, I think that there can be quite a difference between them, and that they do target difference aspects of skincare. If you are happy with the results that you are getting from the oils that you are currently using then you probably don't need to buy more until you run low and need to repurchase. Are you having specific skincare needs that aren't being addressed?
Also I should make the point that my tendency to purchase and use lots of different oils would not qualify as the normal use of a regular consumer. If I didn't have a beauty blog I would likely only have a small fraction of the beauty oils that I currently own :-) That said, I love oils so much that I would still have more than I needed. :-)
DeleteFrom one beauty oil addict to another, I must say that your response is one of the most well reasoned and clearly stated I've ever read. Beautifully written!
DeleteThank you, Eileen! That is very high praise, and extremely meaningful given that it is coming from you! :-)
DeleteI would say that I would most like oils that target anti-aging, anti-inflammation, deep moisture and possibly skin tightening or lifting aspects in skincare.
DeleteA few of my favorites are:
DeleteAfrican Botanics Neroli Infused Marula Oil- It is an antioxidant rich oil with anti-aging benefits that is very deeply nourishing, hydrating and healing.I find that it softens fine lines, and leaves skin looking and feel comfortable with a stunning luminosity.
http://www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com/2013/10/african-botanics-neroli-infused-marula.html
Algenist Anti-Aging Repairing Oil- it is also very nourishing and hydrating, and improves the appearance of fine lines.
http://www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com/2014/06/algenist-advanced-anti-aging-repairing.html
Colbert MD Illumino is an antioxidant rich anti-aging oil that includes retinol among its ingredients.
http://www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com/2014/01/colbert-md-illumino-face-oil.html
Osmia Organics Facial Restoration Serum is a very soothing and healing antioxidant rich oil that is perfection for stressed or damaged skin, and in fact was created by a doctor who made this gentle enough to be used after dermatological procedures (laser treatments, peels etc., and it is great for users of Retin A.
http://www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com/2013/08/osmia-organics-facial-restoration-serum.html
Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil is very nourishing and deeply moisturizing. It is also the first oil to heal a couple of little dry patches on my face-- when nothing else would. I also find that it softens fine lines and lifts.
http://www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com/2012/10/rodin-olio-lusso-luxury-face-oil-golden.html
själ saphir a definite splurge, but a remarkable oil formulated to increase elasticity, lift, nourish, moisturize, calm and soothe the skin.
http://www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com/2014/05/sjal-saphir-concentrate-review.html
TATCHA GOLD Camellia Beauty Oil is a luxuriously soft and silky oil that is antioxidant rich deeply nourishing and moisturizing that calms the skin.
Deletehttp://www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com/2014/08/tatcha-gold-camellia-beauty-oil.html
There are many more that I could mention, but I thought that these would be best suited to your list of desired attributes. I hope that this helps! :-)
Thank you for that information. That first one is the first I purchased after reading your blog. That last one is the most recent I've purchased. I did read about the Rodin on your blog and am sort of waiting another Barneys or Space NK deal to get it. I will read up on the others. Unfortunately, the links did not come as links on my screen; and I have never been able to get the copy/paste function to work on your website. (Is it just me or is it disabled somehow? When I right click and scroll over the link, it just does not light up and copy. This is the only place that happens to me.)
DeleteJust curious, why did you not put the evan healey oil on the above recommended list?
DeleteYou are very welcome! Rodin Olio Lusso isn't sold at Space NK, but in addition to Barneys it can also be found at Beautyhabit, from Rodin directly and from various e-tailers. I hear you though-- I usually make my Rodin purchases during the Barneys Love Yourself Bag Event. It's a really lovely oil, but I don't blame you for wanting to wait until you can get some extra goodies with your purchase-- especially since Rodin doesn't partake in Step-Up gifts during Bag Event (as is often the case for smaller companies since furnishing all of those gifts is quite costly!).
DeleteI apologize that neither links, nor the text from my reviews can be copied. I disabled it long ago after scraper blogs and unethical individuals were stealing my content and violating copyright law. I was advised to disable in order to make it harder for the these horrid people to steal my work. However, there is a way that you can have hyperlinked links that I provide-- if you click on the "Notify Me" box beneath the box where you type your comments-- then an email will be sent to you with my response to you, and those links can all be clicked on. :-) The other thing that you can do is click on the "Luxury Oils" Tab at the top of the blog and there are links to all of my oil reviews-- including the ones that I mentioned above.
I actually thought that I had included the evanhealy oil in my list, but see that you are quite right that I didn't! I have been down with the flu, and my brain is a little muddled right now, but you know me well enough to have seen it as an oddity that it was omitted-- when in fact it was meant to be included :-)
Have a wonderful weekend!
Great review as always. I am so trilled to try this out. It seems like a great one to try out indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie! I'm glad that you find it helpful.
DeleteToday I stopped at Bloomingdales since I was out that way hoping to score a sample of the Sisley Black Rose oil (and the mask). Alas, Sisley was completely out of samples so I could not. However, they are having a promotion in February complete with facials so I can try the products then and hopefully score some samples.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds decadent! I can't wait to hear what you think about the facial, and their oil and mask! I hope that you adore the whole experience!
DeleteI again was in that mall today and stopped in to Bloomingdales to see if they may have gotten in the samples. Alas, they did not. However, this Sisley gal did not let me leave empty-handed. I told her my reason for wanting a sample of the rose oil and rose mask is the dehydration from the harsh winter weather now. Also mentioned that my skin is sensitive so I need to sample products prior to purchase. She gave me samples of cleansing milk with sage, hydra-global, and gentle facial buffing cream. And....ta daaaaa.... she stated "you might feel that way but your skin is glowing!" When I told her I've been using Tatcha, she had never heard of it. Really?
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you were able to get some Sisley samples! Very nice that she noticed your glowing skin! I'm a touch surprised that she hadn't heard of TATCHA, but perhaps she only pays attention to the brands that they sell. I can't wait to hear what you think about the Sisley samples that she gave to you!
DeleteOh, I forgot to say that the clerk commented "This oil must be in a magazine or something because you are the third person to come and ask about it." I thought back to your oil review and mentioned your blog as my source.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting that people had been asking about it! How nice of you to mention my blog!
Delete:-)