Caudalie Vinoperfect

2011 has been a great year for cutting-edge technology skin creams, debut fragrances from luxury fashion houses and niche brands becoming cult ‘must haves’ in the UK.

Here are a few products that have stood out and become firm favourites this year…

Nanoblur – After a few application teething problems with the best-selling optical, quick-fix anti-ageing skin cream, Nanoblur is now my beauty best friend! It works wonders on fine lines and instantly refreshes skin, but most importantly, it slicks away excess oil, so it’s perfect for those of us with combination to oily skin.

Bottega Veneta – The debut fragrance from the Venetian luxury leather and fashion house is unique, captivating and a joy to wear. It has become my everyday scent and I still get a fleeting moment of euphoria with each spritz!

shu uemura uv under base mousse – This weight-less mousse evens out the skin, conceals redness and tightens pores, ready for foundation. It’s another discovery that has become an everyday essential.

Shan Rahimkhan – I had the pleasure of meeting and being styled by Iranian, Berlin-based hair expert Shan Rahimkhan this year. His natural, luxurious and incredibly stylish hair products give unrivalled volume and just make your hair feel great!

Sodashi – This natural-luxe Australian brand has become a fast favourite, as all of the products feel so soothing and nourishing. The Rejuvenating Face Mist has saved me on long flights and the Vanilla Body Butter is just so nourishing.

NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer – This incredibly light gel-crème primer calms skin using natural extracts and the mineral powders help control oily t-zones – once again, a good bet for combination to oily skin.

Caudalie Vinoperfect – Caudaline Vinoperfect Cell Renewal Night Cream and Enzyme Peel Mask revitalise and exfoliate skin without any harsh effects. Used together, they freshen the appearance of skin and definitely help reduce the signs of pigmentation.

Balenciaga Paris – The first fragrance from the French luxury fashion house, Balenciaga Paris is a modern classic of chypre violets, lucid cool florals and metallic aldehyde. Like Nicolas Ghesquière’s muse Charlotte Gainsbourg, it’s chic and effortlessly cool with a renowned heritage…j’adore!

What was your beauty hero of 2011? Which product could you not live without?

* Samples

Caudalie is one of my long-term favourite skin care brands and my first introduction to the brand was once again, my chic Parisian friend, who kept a bottle of the Beauty Elixir in her make-up bag.

In awe of the secret ‘know how’ that French girls always seem to have, I picked up a Beauty Elixir spray on a trip to Paris and continue to use it today. Used by Queen Isabelle of Hungary (a presumably radiant creature with invisible pores), Beauty Elixir instantly refreshes the skin, tightens pores and helps to set make-up.

In the pursuit of extra radiance, I tried out the new Caudalie Vinoperfect Cell Renewal Night Cream (£38) and Caudalie Vinoperfect Enzymatic Peel Mask (£29).

Both newly-formulated products contain a high concentration of Viniferine (the patented vine extract) that works with a ‘smoothing bio-peeling’ complex of papaya enzyme and glycolic acid to gently exfoliate the skin and reveal radiance, while hydrating with grape-seed oil and Hyaluronic acid.

They are suitable for all skin types, addressing concerns for each type, and help to deeply detoxify, renew skin, and eliminate dark spots.

The night cream has a medium-rich consistency and once massaged into the skin, I could feel an abundance of hydration, leaving my skin feeling plump and dewy. In the morning, my skin felt comfortable, nourished and calm.

The enzymatic peel mask had even more significant, surprising results. I applied the mask for ten minutes in the evening and followed with the night cream. In the morning, my skin not only felt smoother, but it was a lot more even and had noticeable radiance.

My skincare performance standards are high, especially when it comes to claims from mid to high end brands, so to see such outstanding results from the mask was an absolute delight. I’ve been using it twice a week now and have made it part of my regular routine.

For more info, visit: www.uk.caudalie.com

Favourite Beauty Discoveries Of 2011

New Caudalie Vinoperfect Skincare