La Mer The Treatment Lotion

La Mer The Treatment Lotion

The Treatment Lotion by La Mer is a high functioning toner/essence that I apply before my serums. It is different to the typical toners on the market because it claims to have bit more benefits to it than just toning the skin. I was sceptical at first especially given the price tag, but it grew on me quickly. Unfortunate for my wallet, both this toner and the Renewal Oil (reviewed here) have become staples in my skincare routine.

What La Mer says/product description:

·       Preps and energises

·       The essential first step toward transformation. Like "liquid energy", this rich and silky hydrator visibly awakens the complexion and drives moisture deep into the skin to improve texture and even tone.

·       Skin is perfectly prepared to receive the full benefit of the La Mer regimen that follows.

·       Application: After cleansing, sprinkle a small amount onto fingertips or saturate a cotton pad. Press into skin.

·       RRP: AU$165/150ml (available from David Jones, Mecca and La Mer online)

My experience:

Now, I still cringe my teeth thinking I paid $165 for a bottle of toner. BUT, this is not your ordinary toner. I feel that you can almost use it as a serum. Its texture is visibly richer/thicker than normal toners - not liquidy and almost lotion like. It is transparent in colour and has no scent. I apply with my fingertips and gently tap into my skin. Although recommended by the La Mer website, even the La Mer beauty adviser told me that applying the Treatment Lotion with a cotton pad is a waste of product.

On most days, I apply this straight after cleansing, mornings and evenings, before any serums. My face feels nourished and moisturised with this lotion alone, while I get the little one ready and dressed etc etc. By the time I am ready to follow up with serums and moisturiser (which is at least half an hour later), my skin would still feel so soft and moisturised. That alone is a tick for me because I have sensitive and dry skin and hate the feeling of tight skin. On the days when my skin gets a bit sensitive, I can immediately feel my skin soothed after applying The Treatment Lotion.

I feel that the claims by La Mer about this Treatment Lotion are quite accurate. It doesn’t claim to anti-age nor fight wrinkles. It does prepare my skin for the rest of my regimen, by injecting moisture into my skin and toning the texture so that serums and moisturiser can be easily absorbed.

Anyone with dry, sensitive and/or mature skin would really really this Treatment Lotion.

Repurchase? Yes (especially when David Jones has its beauty spend and save offers!).

Mecca Max Pout Pop Lipstick

Mecca Max Pout Pop Lipstick

For those who are not from Australia, Mecca Cosmetics is a beauty heaven housing popular mid to high end brands such as Urban Decay, Nars, Too Faced, Drunken Elephant and La Mer etc. (and Sephora Australia does not stock these brands because they are signed exclusively with Mecca!) Mecca also has its own streamlined skincare range including some very popular sunscreens.

This week Mecca has launched its own makeup line – Mecca Max, and it has been on very beauty bird’s lips. The whole range is reasonably priced between around AU$15-$35 (considering L’Oréal foundations retail for more than $30 in Australia), and include products such as lipsticks, liquid lipsticks, primers, foundations, BB creams, eyeshadows, bronzers and blushes etc. Packaging is sleek and cheerful featuring mainly gold, orange and pink. I picked up a few products yesterday to try out and the Pout Pop Lipstick was the first to catch my eyes.

What Mecca says/product description:

·       Colour obsessives, these pop-up pigment bullets of hyper glam, creamy lipstick are your new addiction.

·       There are 29 wantable, ultra-wearable shades of hydrating, longwear pigment in sheer, matte and hi-def opaque payoffs to love.

·       Inject every minute with a high impact colour blast – straight out of the pop-up bullet.

·       RRP AU$20/3.5g

My experience:

This lipstick range comes in three finishes: matte, sheer and hi-def. The shade I picked up was Sunday Sesh in sheer finish. I was swatching the different shades on my hand instore and when I swatched Sunday Sesh I immediately knew it was the one to bring home. It is a beautiful watermelon-y pinky red that flatters warm/yellow skintone very well. It instantly brightens my face when I put this on this morning, and I can see myself wearing this one every day, work or casual. One thing I found with the Mecca Max lipsticks was that the shade range is cleverly designed and all very flattering and wearable.

The Sheer finish is a hydrating and comfortable formula to wear. It has slightly glossy finish which makes my lips look fuller, and the colour pay-off is surprising good for a hydrating lipstick. The hi-def finish lipsticks also seemed very creamy and pigmented when I swatched them instore and the colour payoff was really vibrant. The hi-def lipsticks have a satin-cream finish, not as matte as the Matte ones but definitely not glossy like the Sheer finish. I think I will pick one of the hi-def lipsticks next.

The lipsticks feature a pop up bullet design where you click on the end and the bullet will pop out. I do worry someday I will scratch the actual lipstick while trying to pop it out. The packaging looks sleek and luxe but it is not a metal tube. I think it is made of plastic and it is fine by me as long as the lipstick itself is good.

All in all, I love this lipstick and the shade in Sunday Sesh.

Repurchase? Yes.