REVIEW | Best of Shiseido Serums #ShareBeauty

Even though beauty is my job, I enjoy shopping for makeup and skin care as gifts because I find them practical confidence boosters. Most of the women in my life, however, wear very little makeup so I've partnered with Shiseido for their #ShareBeauty campaign. I'll be reviewing the awesome serum duos I'm gifting my bestie, mother, and grandmother this holiday!

TOP 5 | My Amore Pacific Must-Haves Comprehensive Review + Photos

Most of you are probably aware that Amore Pacific is the leader of the Korean beauty product industry. They produce some of my favorite kbeauty essentials, like Sulwhasoo's Brightening Cushion and Snowise EX Masks, but they also have their own signature line of skin care. I tried Amore Pacific's basic Moisture Bound skin care range in the past and couldn't find anything that was compatible with my finicky skin. The Time Response and Future Response products, however, are a completely different story!

Colbert MD Stimulate The Serum, Illumino Face Mask, and Tone Facial Discs Review, Photos

I have fallen head over heels with Colbert MD. I have been using his skincare quite diligently for the past two months, and his products are still proving highly effective on my stressed skin. They're all formulated with patented QuSome technology which allows the active ingredients to be delivered into the skin's deepest layers. The results I've seen with two of his products have me hooked for life!

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence and Cream Review

I have been using SK-II's brand new R.N.A. Power lineup for several weeks now. The Essence and Cream have been reformulated to target all 10 known tell-tale signs of aging, and I can see on my travel-weary skin that it's working! More details after the jump!

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate Review and Photos

Shiseido's new Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate is a one-of-a-kind, boosting, power-infusing face concentrate for youthful looking skin. In case you haven't heard, skincare boosters are the new generation of 'must-have' products because they supercharge your skin. Ultimune takes it one step further with a new preventative approach to skincare by focusing on immunity. 

With Ultimune, Shiseido embraces an Eastern holistic philosophy that aims to unleash the skin's potential power to become beautiful with a unique botanical cocktail. Gingko biloba leaf extract, perilla, and wild thyme, which are known for their strong anti-bacterical properties, will help maintain a healthy-looking skin surface. Ultimune is intended to resist, protect, restore, and strengthen, leaving skin feeling silky and nourished. The treatment enhances the skin's essential multi-defensive power against visible signs of aging, environmental factors, and daily stress.

Best of all, Ultimune is designed for all skin types and age groups, regardless of skin concerns. It can be introduced into any skin care regimen and will boost the performance and benefits of any serums and moisturizers that follow. I remove my makeup with a cleansing oil, wash my face with a liquid or cream cleanser, and then apply the Ultimune after toner. The consistency is light, so it absorbs quickly and does not leave any residue or glitter on the skin. 

After a couple weeks of use, my skin's texture was smoother and more consistently moisturized. I suffer from dry patches around my nose and near my eyes, and I can positively say Ultimune did help treat them. My skin looked clearer and more even toned as well, with my pores looking smaller than ever! I do not have wrinkles, but I do find that my skin feels more resilient. Also worth mentioning is that the scent is subtle — perfect for those with sensitive noses!

Shiseido claims that immunity is your skin's ultimate defense against damage. I always preach prevention, so this new Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate is a great place to begin or amp up your skin care journey. Never forget the sunscreen and unleash the #beautyinyou with Ultimune! Apply both day and night for best results.

Bottom Line: Not only will Shiseido's Ultimune enhance your skin's immunity and shrink the appearance of your pores, but it will also give you a boost of confidence!

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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Shiseido through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select.

While I was compensated to write a post about Shisiedo, all opinions are my own.

THE TEN | Best Skin Care Products for Acne & Acne Scarring + My Acne Story

Today's long post is dedicated to my acne story. Thanks to the magic of genetics and the influence of my skin care-obsessed grandmother, I never had insecurities about my skin and have almost always maintained clear, healthy skin. I never struggled with acne until last year, when I had a severe bout of cystic acne due to facial waxing. Lesson learned: NEVER EVER wax the face! I had waxed my brows successfully via the Benefit Brow Bar, so I figured I might as well wax off the little peach fuzz around my forehead and cheeks. I couldn't have been more wrong. My skin was fine for the first couple months, but then the cystic acne appeared. I immediately stopped waxing, but I suffered from active break-outs for nearly six months thereafter, wave after wave. Please continue reading and check out my product recommendations after the jump!

Shiseido Benefique Skin Care Review + GIVEAWAY

Shiseido released a brand new skin care collection called Benefique earlier this year, and it is targeted at 20 and 30 year olds to boost skin's health and prevent signs of aging. The finest Asian botanical ingredients meets Shiseido's cutting edge science that boosts skin's inner strength, and revitalizes its outer beauty. Formulated with energizing nutrients like Tiger Lily root extract, Angelica root extract and Ginseng extract, Benefique delivers ideal solutions directly to skin. Check out the individual product reviews and enter the giveaway after the jump!

Lancôme DreamTone Customized Skin Tone Correcting Serum for Dark Spots, Uneven Skin Tone, and Color Imperfections

Lancôme recently introduced a trio of new serums to their powerful skin care line-up, and I have been flooded with requests on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to review it. I am glad to announce that I will indeed be reviewing DreamTone sometime this month, and I will begin testing the product this weekend. I am so excited to share my thoughts with you because I have seen so many rave reviews online already! For now, here is some information on these new customized skin tone correcting serums.

WHO IS IT FOR?

DreamTone is for the woman seeking visible dark spot correction and a more even skin tone. She wants skin so naturally beautiful, she can dare to bare her skin. 

WHAT IS IT?

DreamTone is a new generation skin tone clarifying serum that not only corrects the look of dark spots, but also goes beyond to correct the appearance of uneven skin tone and color imperfections. The serum is customized to skin's specific needs — such as treating the look of dark spots or redness.

WHAT DOES IT TARGET?

A global study on women of multiple ethnicities resulted in three formulas adapted to specific skin tones:

• Fair: Corrects the appearance of dark spots, uneven skin tone, dullness and provides specific color correction for the look of redness
• Medium: Corrects the appearance of dark spots, uneven skin tone, dullness and provides specific color correction for the look of sallowness (olive)
• Dark: Corrects the appearance of dark spots, uneven skin tone, dullness and provides specific color correction for the look of acne & blemish marks

HOW DOES IT ENHANCE SKIN TONE?

Based on the L'Oréal Skin Color Chart and using the Fitzpatrick scale, soft-focus tinted pearls were carefully selected for each formula. As a result, each skin tone can enjoy the benefits of light scattering technology that refracts and diffuses, for a more even and radiant surface that is perfectly complimented with just the right amount and type of light.

THE RESULTS

Immediately: 74% saw glowing skin

7 Days: 70% reported a more even skin tone and 76% saw dullness reduced

4 Weeks: 69% noted the appearance of dark spots reduced

8 Weeks: 78% saw color imperfections reduced

SO POWERFUL, 72% OF WOMEN DARED TO BARE THEIR SKIN!

PRICING & AVAILABILITY:

$98 (1.3 oz.)

Available this Fall at Lancôme counters and www.lancome.com

NOTE: I have been asked what the difference between Visionnaire and DreamTone is, as I have been one of Visionnaire's biggest fans since its release. Since I have not yet tried DreamTone on my face, I assume the primary distinction is that Visionnaire focuses on tightening up the pores and smoothing out lines while DreamTeam is intended specifically for correcting dark spots and other color imperfections. I will report back in the review what the differences in texture and results are!