3.02.2018

REVIEW | Best of Chantecaille: Bio Lifting, Rose de Mai, Future Skin and more!



Mother's Day is coming up within a fortnight edit: in two months (got the M months confused, my apologies) so I figured this would be good timing to share my favorites from Chantecaille, a luxury brand adored by daughters and mothers alike for their chic packaging and focus on botanicals and natural ingredients!  I've featured their products sporadically throughout the years but I've explored a lot more of their line up recently so I wanted to share my thoughts.


My first must-have from the brand is the Future Skin Gel Foundation because it is oil-free.  It doesn't cause break outs or irritate my skin or cause congestion like blackheads.  Even though I am using severely drying acne topical treatments like Epiduo, Future Skin doesn't leave my skin looking parched.  I love that it is water-based because it is lightweight yet manages to diminish imperfections like redness with very little product.  Do try stippling instead of rubbing for best results if your complexion is sensitive.

SAND // CREAM // CAMOMILE
I currently mix Chamomile, Cream, and a tiny bit of Sand to balance out the undertones.  Chamomile is yellow-based but a couple shades too fair to wear alone, and Cream is neutral but slightly more pink (the closest match if I had to pick one).  Sand is another yellow-based shade but it's much darker than I expected so I just ordered Shea which is similar but lighter in color!  You can adjust your final complexion color with loose/compact powder and bronzer if purchasing two foundations seems like overkill.  Since Future Skin is my favorite foundation and I wear it at least a few times a week, I enjoy having multiple jars.


Now let's move on to masks!  I have always preferred sheet masks but Chantecaille produces some of the most effective rinse-off formulas.  My friend Dayna bought me the Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask last year while my skin was suffering in cold windy Portland and it is truly calming.  I struggle with stress, redness, and inflammation so this is an indispensable cream mask and it works even better than the Healing Emulsion which I bought first.  I love using this mask overnight every now and then although it performs equally well when I slather it on and let it work its magic for ten minutes before sponging off.  I know when my skin is super dehydrated because my skin absorbs most of it within five!  Since it is the heaviest mask in my collection, I limit my usage to once or twice a week.


Since I had major success with the Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask, I decided to indulge my curiosity and give the Hibiscus Smoothing Mask a try.  They look very similar in terms of packaging, but this one is meant for re-texturizing so I have been using this once a week as well.  The papaya and grapefruit extracts pair well with the glycolic acid leaving my skin feeling smoother and firmer!  I leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes and sponge it off with lukewarm water depending on how recently I exfoliated that week.  If you have sensitive and/or acne-prone skin as I do, give this gentle mask a try! 


The packaging is not travel friendly, so I'll only pack whichever is better suited for the climate I'll be in.  The Hibiscus Smoothing Mask eliminates dead skin cells so I do love it because it allows me to take a much-needed break from all the heavy duty, super intense scrubs and peels in my acne regimen.  If I had to pick one to recommend though, I would start with the Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask.  Both result in recharged glowing skin, but the Healing Mask can be used as an overnight treatment so I think you get more bang for your buck!


My latest Chantecaille obsession, however, is the Bio Lifting Series.  I raved about the Bio Lifting Fluid moisturizer in my last YouTube video on my hormonal acne skin care routines.  I recently began integrating the Bio Lifting Serum and it is a silky serum that is less expensive alternative to my Holy Grail 111SKIN.  In fact I think Chantecaille's helps my skin look firmer while the 111SKIN is more reparative.  This serum noticeably softened the appearance of my expression lines on my forehead after two weeks!  I follow the directions and press three drops' worth with clean fingertips into the skin and pat until it is fully absorbed. It smells divine, no sticky reside, absorbs quickly.  I started using the Fluid alone first but when paired with the Serum, I do find that my skin is smoother overall.  If you have textural issues from scarring, this should help!


Since I discovered it, there is no other moisturizer I would rather use than the Fluid and I only wish I could afford to use this on my body too.  Most oil-free formulas are not hydrating enough, but this gives my skin a healthy glow and hydration that actually lasts throughout the day.  I use about three or four pumps to cover my face and neck but it absorbs within seconds.  I adore the gel consistency, the pump packaging that never falters, and the formula never clogs my pores.  Yes it is expensive but the Bio Lifting Fluid is one of the best moisturizers I've used in years!


And of course we cannot discuss Chantecaille or their brand heritage and dedication to roses without including the iconic Rose de Mai, a gel-cream.  I love this during hot summer months because it works well under makeup, but I usually put this moisturizer on and then apply the Jasmin and Lily Healing Mask on top before heading to bed.  Chantecaille actually does say Rose de Mai may be used as a moisture boost under regular cream so yes is expensive if you have extra dry skin as I do.  But if you have combination or oily skin, you will love using this alone because the thinner consistency is refreshing yet balancing.  It makes my skin look dewy and feel baby soft.


Now isn't this one of the prettiest skin care boxes you've ever seen? The most recent Chantecaille addition to my skin care arsenal is the fairly new Rose de Mai Eye Lift, and the sleek on-trend rose gold packaging is gorgeous yet practical.  This gel-cream formula is very light and refreshing, so I recommend this more as a preventative first step for those in their twenties.  I still use TATCHA's Luminous Eye Serum in the morning, but I switch off between 111SKIN and this one in the evenings.  They keep my fine lines and baby crow's feet at bay brilliantly.

The pen applicator is long but it's easy to grip — place your pointer finger on top of the  transparent silicone circle then your thumb directly aligned underneath and squeeze to release the product.  Slide the ceramic tip from inner corner to outer corner to melt the gel-cream into the under eyes and gently reduce puffiness.  Don't forget the brow bone!



Ultimately I adore Chantecaille.  The older I get the more I identify with natural, so if you care about ingredients and textures, give some of my top picks a try.  I also started testing the Compact Makeup in Cashew yesterday and it is so smooth, perfect for mattifying my T-Zone.  The ultra-finely milled formula provides sheer coverage while concealing my blemishes, but the sponge applicator stored below the powder can build up coverage so that it appears more like a powder foundation than a pressed powder.


P.S. Take advantage of this quick sale to grab some goodies for 15% off!
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