After reading a past issue of Marie Claire (I'm painfully behind in my reads), I was most intrigued by the article concerning beauty practices around the world. Ning Chao wrote about her experiences throughout Japan, learning about the practices of Japanese women, and sometimes comparing it to American habits.

Ning mentioned vinegars and shrinking techniques, but what hogged my attention was the skincare regimen.

"The Japanese approach to skincare is the opposite of American antiaging, where we try to peel our way back to the past. "We think our skin is very delicate," says MC's Moriyama. Here, stripping toner is replaced with a "softener." "Removing too much of the top layer of the skin gets rid of all its protective-barrier functions, including the inhibition of water loss," explains Dr. Chita Katagiri, a research scientist for Shiseido. The Japanese beauty giant's latest skincare line, Future Solution LX, has an Extra Rich Cleansing Foam, Concentrated Balancing Softener, and Total Regenerating Cream, all designed to keep the skin's surface in peak condition. According to Katagiri, a healthy outer layer prevents problems like dryness, environmental damage, inflammation, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. To maintain perfection, Japanese women religiously wear sunscreen and foundation every day. Smudge-, sweat-, and humidity-proof, the formulas here are heavy duty, but the payoff is flawlessness."

It made me beckon back a month or so to when I started my regimen on kindness to my face. It involved more natural products, and a much more disciplined night and morning routine.I received this product at the NYC Bloggin' Beauts event, and after learning more about the brand and product with the rest of the Bloggin' Beauts, I felt braver about trying it out.

Korres Wild Rose 24-hour Moisturizer

"• Wild Rose oil, a potent, natural source of vitamin C, significantly diminishes fine lines, hyper- pigmentation and resurfaces skin, revealing a soft and radiant complexion
• Imperata cylindrica a desert plant extract, ensures 24-hour long-lasting hydration by continually regulating the cellular water equilibrium
• Pure vitamin C inhibits free radical damage and brightens the skin
• Phytic Acid, a natural skin lightener, helps illuminating sun damage and acne scarring
• Grape seed extract, rich in Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, helps promote a healthy and youthful complexion
• Olive oil, almost identical in chemical structure to our skin lipids, provides ideal hydration, while allowing the skin to breathe"

Within days of using this cream morning and night, my skin was practically praising the Athenian concoction. First of all, it smells great. There are so many creams and gels out there that promise to do many things. While some succeed, and equally as many fail, there are few and far in between that smell good.

One of the reasons that I started to shy away from a disciplined nighttime routine is because I wanted my face to be kissable after it. I didn't want the medicinal smell and turn into some ice queen. I'd take some wrinkles for more kisses with my honey y'all. My old creams would have to be applied not so liberally and with plenty of time to dry before bedtime.



You would understand then, why I call the Korres Wild Rose Moisturizer a godsend, as it:
dries in under a minute.

• smells amazing.
• leaves skin soft & not sticky.
• doesn't make anyone who comes in contact with you recoil from the taste (plenty people kiss cheeks goodnight, right?!).
• moisturizes skin until morning
• and though it contains a small amount of SPF.

That last bullet point is for the ladies who sometimes forget or skip the step in the morning (guilty), this is a small layer to protect your skin as compared to leaving it bare against the elements.

Apart from smelling great, this product really delivers. It goes on nonsticky and dries quick, but it doesn't just evaporate into thin air, leaving you wondering about whatever happened to your night cream. When you wake up (especially from a short slumber that is more appropriately called a nap), your face is always looking refreshed. This is the magic formula for me. I can sleep for two hours, and Korres will make you think it was 18. Hours later, as my yawns give me away, my skin sits back with my sleepless secret at hand.

Currently, the KorresUSA website is sold out of the Moisturizer (but has plenty other goodies), but I have posted up the link for Amazon (they both sell it for $32.50), and you can take advantage of their trio of skincare products ($49) as well.

Do you use moisturizer? How has it worked out for you?