Review: Lancome Advanced Genefique Serum

So I have been searching for a new foundation for a while. I've tried a litany of brands and formulas which we will chat about one day soon.  In my quest I got a recommendation from my friend at the Chanel counter and she said - try Lancome.  So I did.  While I was getting help with matching to the correct color, the beauty advisor gave me a sample of the Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate Serum.  She told me that she used it for 5 days and it totally got rid of the texture she had on her skin (which of course was flawless and makes you go "really?  YOU had texture?!?") 

Well guess what?  It worked on my texture as well!  And it was an immediate improvement.

This serum claims to renew your youthful appearance in 7 days by improving radiance and smoothness.  Not only that but it also says it addresses all of the following:  elasticity, resiliency, texture, clarity, skin tone, fine lines, wrinkles, radiance, sagginess and firmness. I have definitely noticed an improvement in most of these areas.  My skin just feels good again.

It is applied after you wash (and tone if you like) your skin.  The packaging is really well done.  Not only is it very pretty and stylish - like enough to leave out on your vanity as decor - but it is super functional.  It comes in a black to white ombre effect glass container with a dropper. 

When you unscrew the top the button for the dropper's plunger releases.  You depress that button and the perfect amount of product is drawn into the dropper.  Dispense this onto clean hands and rub them together to apply to your face and décolleté (avoiding the eye area).  It glides over your skin nicely and sinks in well.  It dries pretty quickly and you can follow up with the rest of your regime.  And when you close the bottle the button on the plunger sinks back down and gives a ridiculously satisfying click when it is closed properly.  

It didn't take long to decide I needed more than the sample I had been given.  I happened to find a discovery set at Sephora which includes a 1 oz. bottle of the serum, a 0.27 oz. sample of the Genifique eye cream and a travel size (AKA sample size) all together for $78.  For perspective, the 1 oz. bottle is also priced at $78 - so it was a good deal.  (And of course I have since ordered the eye cream because I am really loving that too!)

I don't know if this serum works on all 10 signs of aging, but I do know that my skin feels so much different, my texture is minimal to completely gone and my esthetician of four years noticed a difference after just a week of usage. So I'm sold.  Oh and it's patented until 2029 so you might not want to wait around for a dupe.

Genifique Info

Sephora link to discovery set (not sponsored)

Holistic and Intuitive Interior Design

I feel as though I could have written this myself - up to and including the reference to being a Libra! And I definitely do have an affinity for harmony in my life and my space. Although I didn't pen these words myself, mindbodygreen author Emeli Ericsson has produced a great article with some great tips on how to enhance your space and bring in more harmony to help you feel relaxed in your home.  Try out these tips and tricks and see if you notice an increased sense of "belonging" in your space.

8 Interior Design Tips To Feel More At Home In Any Space

Meditation

Meditation is an integral part of achieving and maintaining wellness - especially as our lives become more and more hectic. Modern science is continually proving benefits of meditation that ancient wisdom has always known.  So how can you incorporate meditation in your own life?

Before you start trying to meditate, it is important to realize is that there really is no right or wrong way to meditate.  And - this is the big one - you are NOT trying to get rid of all thought.  We have over 60,000 thoughts a day.  You would be fighting a difficult battle to try and eliminate them! 

So there are no rules and you aren't trying not to think.....so now what?

The most basic way to begin a meditation practice is to simply sit comfortably, close your eyes and focus on your breath.  Notice how full your lungs become as you breathe deeply.  Try to expel your breath fully to make room for fresh oxygen as you take your next inhale.  As you focus on the breath you can even repeat silently "I am breathing in, I am breathing out". 

If you start thinking of something else, just gently reconnect to your breath.  Be kind to yourself.  Remember there is no right or wrong way to do this and you are not going to stop thinking as you meditate so there is no need to get frustrated with this practice.  Just breath.

It's that simple.  You don't need fancy cushions or incenses or chanting.  You don't need to wear orange robes or move to an ashram or monastery.  You can be in the middle of Times Square and close your eyes and take a few deep breaths and there you have it - you've meditated and as a result have changed your physiology and your mindset.    Benefits of Massage

In Ayurveda pranayama - breathwork - is one of the four pillars of health.  Many of us focus on the first two pillars -nutrition and movement - but often overlook or minimize the importance of breath and rest.  So give meditation a try and see how it feels.

And if you don't want to begin your meditation journey alone, join the Chopra Center's 21 Day Meditation Challenge that begins on November 5th.  You can engage with a community of like-minded individuals to learn and practice meditation.      Chopra Center's 21 Day Meditation Challenge

Pink Salt to help combat aging

http://www.wesh.com/news/31065257/detail.html

Massage Available

Beginning May 21st, Prana Holistic is excited to offer massage services!!!

We will offer 30, 60 and 90 minute, Ayurveda-inspired massage at a lovely studio in historic Sanford or we can come to you!

Night and Weekend appointments booking now.

Please call 407.476.8480 to book your massage today!

Spring Greening

I have pretty much mastered the way to make my own bath and body products - which I share with you through Prana Holistic.  So now I have decided to expand to the homefront.  So I have scoured my library of resource books and Pinterest and have been collecting ideas to make my own cleaning products for the home. So far I have found a great powdered laundry detergent, I'm working on the liquid version and I'm on the fence about my dishwasher detergent at this point.  So not bad so far all in all.

Here is the recipe for the powdered version:

1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
1 bar of Fels-Naptha soap

You shred the bar soap with a cheese shredder (or a similar attachment on your food processor) then mix it with the other two ingredients.  And Voila! 

Store in an airtight container.  Use 2 Tbsp. per load of laundry.

I am working on the recipe using my organic bar soap so I know exactly what is in my detergent as far as fragrance and chemicals. I do not think it will be much different.

I will also update on the liquid version once I find enough containers to hold the finished product.

As for the dishwasher.....well, I'm still looking......more to come. 

Massage Therapy

The time is drawing near that I will be able to offer Massage Therapy with a concentration on Ayurvedic wellness!!  Stay tuned for more.....