First Impressions: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Ampoules

A couple of weeks ago, I made a mental note to purchase, after I watched a Caroline Hirons video. Caroline talked about how much she loved the new Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules, and that they would be coming out in September.  Silly me... obviously that is the UK release date.

I was surprised and thrilled to find this product at the Estee Lauder counter in Hudson's Bay, and of course, they had to come home with me. Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair (original and new version) is one of those products with cult status. I can't even count how many beauty magazine top ten products I have seen ANR on, so I had very high expectations for this new product.
Ingredients

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Bisabolol, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Camelina Satvia Seed Oil, Vaccinum Myrtillus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, BHT

These ampoules are designed as a recovery treatment for irritated, stressed out skin.  They come in small self contained capsules; you twist the top off then squeeze the product into the palm of your
hand to apply.  This would be a great travel item.

The ampoules contain a fairly lightweight, unscented facial oil.  It's somewhere between the consistency of a serum and a heavier oil.  It absorbs well on the skin.  Recommendation is to follow with your moisturizer.  For an oily skinned girl like myself, no additional moisturizer was needed.  My skin felt very hydrated.  Perhaps in the winter weather, I would top this off with more moisture.

Overnight, my skin felt plump.  I noticed increased hydration, and the ampoules calmed down the redness I was experiencing due to seasonal allergies.  Estee Lauder recommends to use this over top of the original ANR serum for 14 days straight as a 'reset' for your stressed out skin.

My first impressions are great.  Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules are a lovely, hydrating treatment oil made with quality ingredients in beautiful packaging.  I will report back once some time has passed and give a more longterm review.

Review - May Lindstrom - The Honey Mud

the Honey Mud - available in Canada at Clementine Fields

I first heard of the incredibly lovely May Lindstrom from Caroline Hiron's blog.  May’s product the Blue Cocoon was featured in Hiron’s Cult Beauty box (which I lusted after…but couldn’t bring myself to make the investment).  

I have since tried and purchased several of May Lindstrom’s skincare essentials, and would likely have bought everything she makes by now if they weren’t so damn spendy. Her product descriptions read like poetry. Also, please take a look at this woman and tell me you don't want to buy everything she puts on her face? 

photo from cultbeauty

I purchased the Honey Mud from Clementine Fields, a great canadian website featuring green, beauty products.  The shipping was free and ridiculously quick; great service.  I'm currently lusting after the Blue Cocoon and will no doubt be purchasing it from Clementine Fields in the near future.

HERE'S WHAT THEY SAY:
An exquisitely distinctive union of raw honey, white halloysite clay and aromatic pure plant oils marry to envelope you in a truly intoxicating and highly addictive cleansing ritual.  This silken, pudding-like treat gently frees you of the day’s pollutants, infusing your skin with active enzymes and nourishment while restoring your optimal hydration and individual rhythm.

INGREDIENT LIST:
***Raw Honey, White Halloysite Clay, *Macadamia Integrifolia (Macadamia Nut Oil), *Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Argentum Metallicum (Colloidal Silver), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Absolute) Oil, *Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, *Cananga Odorata (Ylang-Ylang) Oil, *Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) CO2 Total Essential Oil, *Juniperus Virginiana (Cedarwood) Oil, **Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Oil, **Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Oil.
* Certified Organic
** Wild Harvested
***Collected from unsprayed and unfertilized fields of Michigan wildflowers

HOW TO USE:

As a cleanser: Massage a plump pea sized dollop into warm, damp skin, making circular motions with the pads of your fingertips to release makeup and debris before rinsing clear. As a masque: Apply liberally to clean, dry skin. Allow to penetrate for 10-20 minutes as desired.

PROS:
Ermagosh, this stuff smells good enough to eat!  The smell is gorgeous!  I do feel like the Honey Mud has had a calming effect on my redness prone skin.  I will confess, that I actually might have accidentally/on purpose tasted the Honey Mud, and although it's not for consumption, it is kind of tasty.  Why do they make so many skincare items that I want to eat?

CONS:
As a cleanser, this product is a bit of a fail for me.  My skin leans towards the oily/combo side of things, and I have to be careful about cleanser residue being left on my face.  When I use the Honey Mud as a cleanser, I find the texture a bit sticky/too much grip on my skin.  Plus, it’s a little difficult to rinse off, even with a flannel.  But as a masque….?!  I love this stuff! I have been masking with the Honey Mud quite often, and it leaves my skin soft, hydrated, and alleviates some of my chronic redness.

THE STRAIGHT DOPE:
May Lindstrom products cost an arm and a leg as in you “May” have to sell a vital organ to afford this stuff. The Honey Mud is a luxury cleanser, not a necessity… but a lovely, lush product to add to your self-care ritual. Although I love using this product, I’m not entirely sure I would repurchase the Honey Mud once I run out. I would rather save my beauty investment dollars for products that I do not rinse off my face.