Black, White, and Gray Simplicity

The March 2012 issue of Elle Decoration features the home of boutique owner Pia Moller Hansen.

Best Beauty Products...Carol Lim

Carol Lim, co-creative director of Kenzo and co-founder of Opening Ceremony, talks about her beauty routine and products she uses in the July 2012 issue of Elle.

Her daily routine consists of:

Shiseido Pureness ($18) cleansing wipes to remove makeup, followed by Shiseido cleanser
 

Next she applies two toners, an SK-II followed by her mom's homemade elixir (which ingredients her mom keeps secret)
 

She finishes with Shiseido Future Solution LX ($260) serum
 

Fave products include:

Aesop shampoo and conditioner, Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray ($27)
 

Givenchy Mister Light ($33) for dark circles
 
Stila Lip & Cheek Stain ($24) for its convenience
 
Kenzo Kenzoki White Lotus spray for setting and refreshing her makeup
Essie Rock Candy and Fifth Avenue ($8)
 
Fresh Sugar Body Oil ($45) for extra-parched skin

Skin Infusions and Essences

The June 2012 issue of Elle features a great article, "Liquid Assets," by April Long who investigates the benefits of liquid infusions/essences for the skin.  Women in Asia have been using them forever and I have a feeling that they will soon gain popularity in the states.  The theory goes that "when suspended in liquid , many anti-aging ingredients can penetrate more deeply into the skin than when in heavier formulations..."  These are some to try:

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence ($155) is the one the author uses, which contains more than 90% of Pitera, "a vitamin-, mineral-, and amino acid-rich metabolic fluid released by a specific stain of yeast during the fermentation process-purportedly developed after a scientist noticed the soft, youthful hands of otherwise wizened workers at a sake brewery."

Caudalie's grape yeast derived Toning Lotion ($35)



Biologique Recherche Silk Plus ($118) "protects and hydrates a compromised complexion"


Darphin Intral Redness Relief Soothing Serum ($85) "quells redness and soothes irritation"

















Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence ($56) "a luxe, peony-scented humectant, amino-acid, and skin-renewing enzyme blend, dates back to 1897"





Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase ($58) "which was recently relaunched with a lighter, ultraliquid consistency (the balance of four parts water to one part oil purportedly better mimics the mixture of water and lipids in the skin)"


Fresh Creme Ancienne Infusion The Ultimate Treatment Toner ($90) "revitalizes with a blend of bamboo water, rosewater, and lavender flower water, plus nourishing oils and hyaluronic acid"

Best Beauty Products...Liv Tyler

Liv Tyler reveals some beauty advice (use lots of conditioner and leave it on for a very long time for super soft hair, run a white nail pencil under your tips for clean and bright nails) along with her favorite beauty products in the May 2012 issue of Elle:

Givenchy Very Irresistible Electric Rose
Pantene Classic Care Solutions Conditioner "super refreshing"
Caudalie Paris Grape Water Soothing Moisturizing Spray "a must for long flights"

$8

Tracie Martin Amla Purifying Cleanser

$65

Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm "is amazing because you dab it on and it gives a really natural-looking stain"
Sally Hansen 2-in-1 Nail White Pencil
Astara Skin Care Blue Flame Purification Mask "a dense mud with lots of essential oils, so it's really brightening and it tightens your pores"

$41

Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Skin Cleansing System "I'm always exfoliating my skin"