Allegresse 24-K Skincare Bio Anti-Wrinkle Cream and Refining Facial Serum
:: PR Sample ::
With age comes experience, with experience comes wisdom. At my age now, there are things I don't compromise especially when it comes to
skincare. I've said it many times, aging is inevitable and the proverbial fountain of youth remains a myth. But with a healthy lifestyle (I don't smoke or drink, I chug water, I use sunscreen), positive disposition (I stay sway from drama!) and religious use of products that deliver outstanding results (I'm big on serums and moisturizers), you can keep wrinkles at bay for a while (
Imma proud 40, girly!).
With a gamut of
skincare products out in the market today, from drugstore to luxury, choosing THE ONE seems to be an onerous task. But that's how it really is. What works for others may not for me and vice versa. Recently, I had the opportunity to try a new anti-aging brand which lists gold in its ingredients. Yes, you read it right. Since I'm a lover of gold (I wear my gold jewelries 24/7, 365d), I thought it was cool to incorporate it in my skincare. After all, gold is used in some luxury spas to moisturize, reduce wrinkles, fill lines and rejuvenate skin.
Allow me to introduce
Allegresse, the newest skincare line by high-end beauty boutique company Bibasaque. Allegresse means joy in French; After using the serum and moisturizer day and night for almost a month, I couldn't agree more! Scroll further for full review,
discount code and giveaway to TheFabZilla readers!
Let's start with
Allegresse Refining Facial Serum (30 ml, $189). It claims to nourish all facial zones and reduce visible lines and
wrinkles. Ingredients include borage seed oil, evening primrose oil and pomegranate extract to help fight premature aging, pure gold to boost skin's texture, and natural oils for deeper hydration. It's free from parabens, mineral oil, SLS, petroleum and synthetic color.
Aqua (Water), Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Of cinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Sage (Salvia Of cinalis) Leaf Extract, Triethylene Glycol, Verbena Of cinalis Leaf Extract, Fragrance (Parfum), Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Borago Of icinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Gold (CI 77480)
You know I can be quite nitpicky when it comes to buzzwords and whatnot so while gold is listed last in the ingredients, I will evaluate this serum based on the merits it earned and why I enjoyed this a lot. See I have oily yet maturing skin, this lethal combination makes my big pores even more obvious by way of gravity and shine. Right now, it is my utmost concern, trivial but who cares. What I like about this serum is that instantly, I can feel my face being pulled up (not to Joan Rivers level
por favor) but enough to reduce the appearance of my imperfections. If you look at the above
photo close enough, you can see minute gold particles suspended in a clear gel formula. But rather than giving a shimmery-shiny appearance, it leaves a nice velvety coat which helps tighten pores, make skin look supple, reduce the appearance of shine, and eliminate the need for a makeup primer. I use this twice a day (1) in the morning under BB cream (2) at night in combination with Allegresse Bio-Anti-Wrinkle Cream (review below). Other things worth-mentioning: it has subtle floral fragrance, the pump-dispenser type bottle makes it sanitary, and the absorption is fast.
Next up is
Allegresse Bio Anti Wrinkle Cream (50 ml/1.7 oz, $200). The ingredients are quite identical to the serum but in addition, this moisturizer also lists Songa, a unique organic botanical extract which helps skin appear firmer and supple.
Water (Aqua), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Dimethicone, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Fragrance (Parfum), Water & Solidago Virgaurea (Goldenrod) Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Borago Of cinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Triethylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Punica Granatum Extract, Gold (CI 77480)
So do you really need the extra step of using a moisturizer (or serum for that matter)? It all boils down to preference and budget consideration. Skincare hardcore junkies like myself advocate the use of both because (1) serums have the ability to penetrate deeper layers of the skin, think of it like force-feeding your dermis with all the good nutrients (b) moisturizers on the other hand provide additional hydration by holding water in the outermost layer of the skin. Got extra bucks? use together. Short on moolah? drop either one. Now that you know my stand, let's tackle this anti-aging cream.
As you can see, this moisturizer is housed in a glass jar. My only reservation with this type of packaging is the probable contamination that's why it's imperative to dip into it with clean fingers every single time. But other than that, I like its creamy texture which applies and dissolves onto skin rather fast. I use this mostly at night (over serum) and in days I skip BB cream and opt for regular foundation. Used with a serum, I am pleased that it hydrated my face pretty well. I can see dewiness as the day progresses but not enough to be bothered by sebum attack.
If you like natural products and you're willing to pay for quality, this is a good skincare line to consider. I mean it's a fact: achieving great-looking skin does require serious investment. Got good genes? lucky you! I don't, which is why I'm more than happy to share that Bibasque is offering 50% discount with any Allegresse product with promo code ALLEGRESSE50 at check out (I don't earn from this referral).
Not ready to splurge yet? Enter this giveaway! One fabulous reader will win the same products I reviewed and love, it's $389-worth!
:: Open to USA and Canada only (sorry international readers, it's Bibasque rules)
:: At least 18 y/o (you can never be too young to start with skincare)
:: Must be TheFabZilla subscriber (I value your loyalty)
:: A happy camper (meaning, if you don't win, don't get mad and hound me or the company).
I will pick the winner using Rafflecopter but Bibasque will ship your prize. Starts 8/11/14 and ends 8/24/14. One last thing, be sure to read these guidelines before entering the giveaway. Patience is a virtue, wait for Rafflecopter to load. Good luck beauties!