Cle de Peau

Cle de Peau lipsticks are as good as it gets. The coverage, texture and finish look like a million dollar, which is a very good thing considering the price. Their regular lipstick has been my secret weapon for nearly a year now, and its performance still amazes me. I didn't think it could be topped, but the new(ish. I've had it for two or three months now) Extra Rich Lipstick has proven me wrong.

Cle de Peau has taken the smoothness, weightlessness and tenacity of The Lipstick and combined it with Vitamin A Acetate which delivers moisturize and serious smoothing without gooping up or looking balmy. It almost erases the lines on the lips and I've watched in awe how it makes the tiny scar on lip nearly invisible. The Extra Rich lipstick has its predecessor's amazing staying power- it stays on throughout lunch or dinner and even retains most of the finish. The color barely transfers to a glass or a cat (my white cats often sport kiss marks on their foreheads) and there's no need to reapply for about 6 hours.

The Extra Rich Lipstick only comes in eight shades. I tried all of them at the counter but the only one that looked good and came home with me was R3, Leonardis (the full name only appears on the Cle de Peau website, it's not on the box or tube). Sometimes having a funky skin color saves me money, but I would have loved to have more options in this range. R3 is a medium berry red. It has quite a presence but isn't too out there and I can easily wear it during the day with minimal other makeup. It perks up the face and looks juicy and alive, but also very elegant and grown up.

Bottom Line: Love doesn't even begin to describe it.

Cle de Peau Extra Rich Lipstick ($60) is available at top department stores from Bergdorf to Saks, including their websites.

All photos are mine.

I have quite a few new skin care secrets and discoveries to share over the next couple of weeks. I'm seriously giddy about the effectiveness and overall fabulousness of the new products top companies have been releasing. Skin care has come a long way since the days of cold cream, and we're the ones who benefit from it.

Many of you have been following my quest to get rid of some unfortunate sun damage that took up residence on my face in the form of freckles, dark spots or whatever you want to call them. Cle de Peau labels it "Age Spot", and I don't really mind as long as their serum actually works. And it does. I've mentioned before that I saw some change about 10 days after I first started using the serum. I wasn't entirely sure, but certain areas like the top of my cheekbones seemed a little lighter, more clear maybe, and a recent light scar (roughhousing with a cat is dangerous) has faded and disappeared almost overnight. But you shouldn't draw any conclusions until a minimum of 6 weeks using this kind of products.

So here I am, more than eight weeks later and I was right about what I saw in early May. But the biggest change doesn't even require spending hours gazing at myself. I have two annoying spots on my left cheeks. They've took up residence there about five years ago and I've been going after them with lotions and potions for several years now. The spots used to be a lot darker and more obscene, and in the beginning almost touched each other. Both faded quite a bit since then, the lower one has shrunk somewhat and the distance between them gradually grew. That has always been one of my indicators that the creams and serums were doing at least something. Now, the lower one is nothing but a dot and the bigger one while certainly present and noticeable, is much lighter and can be mostly covered by heavy duty concealers and foundations.

The overall feel of my skin is supple, soft and moisturizers seem to be absorbed very effectively. It's not that I've become Snow White or anything, but my skin is brighter and happier. So am I.

Bottom Line 1: Worth each and every one of the pretty pennies it costs.
Bottom Line 2: Wear your sunblock. Seriously.


Cle de Peau Beaute Anti Age Spot Serum ($155, 1.3 oz) is available from top department stores and select Shiseido standalone boutiques.

Images-
Snow White: teenangster.net
Bonne Bell ad with Cheryl Tiegs- Glamour magazine, July 1968: myvintagevogue.com

My local Cle de Peau SA was very excited about their newest mascara, the one called "The Mascara". Her enthusiasm was contagious and the promises in the marketing materials even more so: it lengthens! it curls! it creates drama and volume! Who can ignore all that, especially since Cle de Peau is one of my favorite brands?

Let's start with the good: The mascara has a nice glossy black finish. It dries quickly, stays on all day and doesn't flake or smudge even when I accidentally touch my eyes. But that's about it. Performance, both volume and length-wise is nothing more than decent. There's absolutely no drama there and the result is less than impressive. The curved brush emphasizes the lashes in the outer corners but application is not even. This mascara is so atrociously expensive- compare Cle de Peau's $50 price tag to Kanebo Sensai Mascaras ($25 for the 38 Degree mascara and $32 for the Volumizing one) or Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill, which is one of the very best mascaras on the market today ($32). I'm all for luxury and finding the best products money can buy, but this is not the one.

Bottom Line: Avoid.

Cle de Peau The Mascara ($50) is available from top department stores. I bought it at my local Saks.

Photos by me.

Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Enhancer Base is not your average makeup primer. It takes a bit of adjustment- the first couple of times I ended up with a bit of a Kabuki face because it's pearly white, not sheer. The base targets and evens skin tone and not necessarily texture, so my guess would be that if you need a primer to fill lines or scars and provide a a smooth surface, this Cle de Peau product might not deliver. However, it does affect the foundation and finish, so there is a visible smoothing effect and at least some enhancing of your foundation performance and lasting. Not as much as most silicone primers that really cement your makeup in place, but enough to make a difference.

So what does the Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Enhancer Base actually do?

Mostly, it brightens and gives the face a subtle and an unidentified glow while reducing the appearance of discolorations, uneven skin tone and dark circles. I'd say it's like Nars Brightening Serum on steroids, or maybe with a hefty dose of Touche Eclat. I saw a significant difference when using the base on the dark circle under just one eye compared to the other one. I tried taking photos, but this is beyond my skills or my camera's capabilities, so you'll have to take my word for it. This photographing experiment has also shown a certain glare that affected the pictures. I'd strongly suggest consulting with an experienced makeup artist before you wear it for a photo shoot.

Clé de Peau suggests adding a coat or two for darker areas, and that's true. Unlike most primers, this base builds up. It can also be used over your foundation with very nice results (again, be careful  if you're using it before having your engagement picture taken). I also mixed some with sheer coverage foundations (Chanel Vitalumiere) and with a tinted moisturizer. It worked every time. Used under mineral makeup, the Luminizing Base requires a very light hand and cautious when buffing the minerals. It required some practice, but once I got it, the results were great. Just make sure your skin is very (VERY) well-moisturized. At least if you're my age and trying to look alive.

Which brings us to two usage tips:
1. Despite claims, the base is not an adequate moisturizer for normal to dry skin.
2. Avoid your eyebrows, or better yet, use brow wax or something similar to protect them. It's a hassle to get the liquid out of the eyebrows, and I promise you, pearly white is not a good look for that part of the face.

Bottom line: Probably not a must-have, but used judiciously it can be a great addition to the makeup addict arsenal.

Cle de Peau Beaute Luminizing Enhancer Base ($90) is available from top department stores, including online. I bought it at my local Saks and highly recommend you get a SA/ MUA to demonstrate it before you buy. Thankfully, Cle de Peau people are among the best you can find and they seem to be extra passionate about the line.

Image: vintage Japanese cosmetics ad from oldorientmuseum.com