Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle Concealer/Brightener

Lately the beginning steps of my makeup routine have consisted of using whatever tinted moisturizer has been on HauteLook recently (Alison Raffaele for now!) and this amazing concealer.  Peter Thomas Roth's Un-Wrinkle Concealer/Brightener duo is definitely one of my new all time favorites.  One end is obviously a concealer; it matches my skin perfectly, blends like a dream, and covers up any imperfections that tinted moisturizer just doesn't, like redness and undereye circles.
 
The other side is a brightener, a very very pale lightweight shimmer that looks so good blended on the apples of your cheeks, directly underneath your eyebrow arch, and on either side of the bridge of your nose, where shadows are most prevalent.  It's like magic in a tube and will leave you with a perfectly glowing complexion. 

Face Serum: What You Need to Know

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Skincare products can be confusing to navigate with all the little tubes and jars and bottles full of promises.  Should you pick retinol or vitamin C?  Sun protection or paraben free?  Scrub or mask?  It can get pretty mindblowing, even for product addicts like myself.  One type of product in particular I've always been curious about is face serum.  What exactly is it, what does it do, should I use one?!  I'm willing to bet a lot of you have wondered the same thing!  So here's the deal:

While moisturizers absorb into your skin to keep it hydrated, the smaller molecules of serums allow ingredients and nutrients to absorb even deeper into your pores for more effective treatments.  Think back to high school biology class for a second: remember how your skin has three layers?  A moisturizer will only absorb into the top layer of your skin, but a serum can absorb through all three layers.  If you've got a skin issue that really needs to be addressed, such as fine lines or an uneven skintone, a serum is definitely the way to go.  If hydration and protection is all you need, a moisturizer is your best bet.

Serums work best when applied at night on slightly damp skin.  It should be applied after toner (or after washing your face, if you don't use toner) but before your moisturizer.  Some serums provide all the hydration your skin needs, so you won't even have to use a moisturizer!  If not, though, wait at least five minutes to allow to serum to really soak in before applying anything else.  Applying it right before bed allows the serum to absorb overnight for maximum effectiveness. 

There are many different kinds of serum to target different skin issues, but here are a few standouts to keep your skin glowing and gorgeous whether you need aging protection or general skin improvement.

Best Overall:
Peter Thomas Roth Radiance Oxygenating Serum ($65): I'm obsessed with oxygen-related skincare products. Even though there isn't a whole lot of scientific evidence to back it up, my skin always feels incredible after I use oxygen products.  I can't think of anything more amazing than oxygen soaking deep into my pores.

Best Natural:
By Elizabeth Dehn The Serum ($48): Elizabeth Dehn (AKA Beauty Bets) is my beauty blogging hero.  Her skincare collection just launched this week, featuring luxury products with all natural ingredients!  The Serum contains eleven different plant-based oils to target any skin complaint you can think of AND smells like roses.

Best Bargain:
Boots No. 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum ($23):   Seventy percent of reviewers on Drugstore.com can't be wrong; they all saw noticeable results, and eighty five percent saw an improvement in skin texture.  These reviews almost exactly reflect the company's clinical trials, so if you want a great skincare bargain, look no further.

Nail Polishes: Orly Space Cadet and Sephora by OPI Mash-Up

I'm obsessed with the complexity of these two metallic nail polishes.  I could stare at them for hours, watching all the subtle shimmery color changes.  Both are iridescent and reflect a gorgeous variety of shades. 


Orly Space Cadet ($10) looks exactly like it sounds: futuristic, bold, the nail polish equivalent of "Major Tom" by the Shiny Toy Guns.  In bright light it reflects fuchsia, bright gold, and deep green from different angles.  In low light the color is more violet.

Sephora by OPI in Mash-Up ($9.50) is from the new Glee collection and is Space Cadet's lighter counterpart.  I don't watch Glee, but I secretly kind of enjoy their mash up songs, especially this one.  Mash-Up reflects silver, hot pink, mint green, and even faintly gold toward the edges.

Photographing the complex iridescence of these colors was pretty difficult, but you can see it a little better in the pictures of the individual polish bottles.  Sephora's website describes Mash-Up as "opalescent grey", but it's SO much more than that.  Space Cadet is, too.  Which one would you wear most?