Tag Archives: Grapes

Caudalie: the new Vinexpert anti-aging regimen

Posted on May 7, 2013 | Leave a comment

All those who have followed this blog

for a while know how much I love Caudalie products! For nearly 3 months, I’ve tested the new Vinexpert regimen (new products formulation and packaging). And this test reinforces in my opinion : Caudalie is great! I really appreciate these products don’t contain parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, mineral oils and sodium laureth sulfate. And of course the concept of Vinotherapie.

I tested first the Vinexpert anti-aging regimen two years ago. My skin was in bad shape and received an electric shock. As dehydrated and dull, after few months using the Vinexpert products, my skin turned toned and radiant.

At the time I really liked the Night Infusion Cream. So Iabsolutely wanted to discover and test the new formulation with Resveratrol-Oleyl vine (do not panic!) “New generation” that “stimulates the production of collagen and elastin and stops at the source glycation , responsible for wrinkles“(Caudalie).

Honestly I don’t think we can avoid wrinkles by using serum or cream, just delay or improve them … more or less long term (lol)! In fact I am interested in the Vinexpert serums (picture 1) for their tensor effect (all yo-yo girls can understand me). Among my favorites, the Vinexpert Firming Serum is very fluid and contains Peptides, Argan proteins & Resveratrol-Oleyl. I apply it morning and evening, following the gestures described in the product packaging. This short facial gym twice a day amplifies the tensor effect of the product. It’s very fast and gestures easy to remember.

And a more or less similar gesture is assigned to each product. My very sensitive eyes tolerated very well the Eye & Lip Serum. I used it more as a super moisturizing than a puffiness lifting serum (as mentioned on the packaging).

My thunderbolt product of this new Vinexpert line

is the Vinexpert Radiance Day Fluid SPF15 (picture above). This product contains Hyaluronic acid and Resveratrol-Oleyl is fantastic! A really nice texture, slightly tinted with matte finish on the skin. A dream for combination skin! The skin is soft and comfortable (understand hydrated).

From the first application and without makeup: people asked me if I was coming back from vacation so I look good! The complexion is radiant and the skin looks healthy and unified and slightly brilliant. Excellent fluid, inspired BB creams it seems to me. Caudalie should consider a version with a sunblock protection for countries with strong sunshine. It would avoid to add a layer of sunblock for the combination skins!

In the evening, I apply the Night Infusion Cream (picture 2) which calms, soothes and nourishes my skin. Well during this long and harsh winter, the coldest days I replaced the Broad Spectrum SPF15 Radiance Day Fluid by this ultra nourishing cream with Shea. In conclusion, this anti-aging Vinexpert regiment has a real effect on my skin. These cosmetics have a discret pleasant smell and a lovely light packaging convenient and feminine! All femal globetrotters will appreciate …

The Caudalie Spa @ Les Etangs de Corot, near Paris

Caudalie: High Protection SFP 50

BEAUTY & DESTINATIONS

Brussels: Tasting of the Avondale’s Wines from South Africa @ La Quincaillerie

Posted on May 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

Funny to taste wines for someone who doesn’t drink! Naturally curious, especially since my photo shoots in the Douro and Bordeaux, I enjoy discovering through the wine: travel, know-how, culture and landscapes. Invited by Chacalli Wines, I discovered the South African wine, Avondale (pictured above) at La quincaillerie (a great restaurant with the Japanese Chief Minoru, sugoi ne!).

Jonathan Grieve, passionate proprietor of Avondale wine estate, near Cape Town, keen on ecology and biodynamic farming, presented several of his wines. Instead using chemical pesticides, he prefers a squad of Pekin ducks. Large white ducks that look like geese. A regard to the environment that reminded me the South African holistic environmentally-friendly cosmetics brand, Africology. Before this tasting, I didn’t know the principles of biodynamic and felt a bit lost at the benning of Jonathan’s presentation. In each wines presentation form, there is an introduction that refers to biodynamic, with “cosmic influences” and “astronomical on soil …” (like for La Luna 2006 wine). Really interesting and innovative and clever marketing, like the contemporary sorber labels on the bottles, positioning these wines in a mid to high range. They are rooted in their time. About grapes, for La luna 2006, I was nicely surprised by the presence of Petit Verdot (referring to my SF experience in a blend workshop in Bordeaux, lol).

So what about the wine tasting Miss never-without-my-spittoon? Far from being an expert, I really liked Anima, a white wine made with an organic Chenin Blanc : very fruity aromas (including pineapple!) and light acidity. Cyclus 2009 is more aggressive, more acidic and less elegant than Anima. La Luna 2006, is a blend of grapes I know: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. This is the subtlest and most sophisticated between the different nuances of aromas. The most classic too, quoted by Jonathan as a “vintage”. And finally Samsara, a strong character wine: spicy (white pepper, clove, cinnamon), fruity (mulberry), tannic. Conclusion: now I really have to discover this land of wine close to Table Mountain… Is the globetrotter awake, Mademoiselle Le K?

www.avondalewine.co.za

Photos 2 & 3 : La Quincaillerie (source photos: www.quincaillerie.be – Lay out: Mademoiselle Le K). Photo 1 : Avondale’s wines (source photos: www.avondalewine.co.za – Lay out: Mademoiselle Le K).

Bordeaux, France: The Bordeaux Wine School

Bordeaux, France: Wines & Design @ Ad Francos

DESTINATIONS

Bordeaux, France: Château de Carmasac in the Entre-Deux-Mers Countryside

Posted on January 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

Let’s move to Gironde in the Entre-Deux-Mers countryside, near Bordeaux. And visit the Château de Camarsac, called the “Black Prince’s castel” (Edouard of Woostock) from the 14th century. Today the castel and vineyard are the properties of Thierry Lurton. I climb to the top of the dungeon: a very sportive climb because of the width and height of the steps!!!. Stonished view of the vineyard (picture 4) produces differents wines : red wines, rosés wines, clairet (a bled of Cabernet and Merlot grapes, picture 5) and more recently white wines (since 2009). You can choice between different visits : classic, historic et technology (wine processing technology focus).