5 posts tagged "Carita"
Behind The Veil With Carita
I am happy to report that after a few concentrated weekends at the beach in New York and New Jersey (coupled with that eight-day jaunt I took to the British Virgin Islands in March), I have fully done away with my winter skin and entered my bronze age—that three-month period of summer when my olive limbs turn a shade of gold and any lingering blotchiness is but a distant memory. I practice safe sunning, of course—broad-spectrum SPF 50 for face and usually an SPF 15 or 30 for body that I reapply as needed (more on this when our special sunscreen guide goes live next Monday). But I’m finding that even with my newfound glow, I still need a daily complexion enhancer for a more uniform tone and a bit of a radiance boost. Since the New York humidity is in full effect and I have a fresh crop of freckles to show off, I don’t want to use anything too heavy, which has rendered foundation and tinted moisturizers out of contention. Carita Paris’ new Sublime Radiance Veil, however, is the perfect consistency. The base of 50 percent floral and rose waters is packed with perfectly proportioned micronized pigments and mattifying powders, which are blended with an oxygen complex to ensure a shockingly light, transparent finish. The liquid, which is available in four shades, wears almost like a refreshing toner, yet it miraculously manages to impart an impressive sheer tint that is light and breathable. The frosted glass bottle is formulated sans SPF, so it’s best worn in the evening for an instant—and long-lasting—dose of good face.
Paradise Found
NONI (no-nee) / n. / 1. / Also known as Morinda citrifolia, a fruit-bearing tree that traces its origins back to Tahiti and the Marquesas but can now be found growing throughout Asia, South America, and the West Indies; n. / 2. / A yellow oblong fruit, which has a pungent odor when ripe; n. / 3. / A pressed juice, popularized by herbal-driven health circles and Australian-born model Miranda Kerr, that is frequently ingested as a natural remedy for everything from headaches and metabolic function to cardiovascular disease; n. / 4. / A fortifying and stimulating extract for the skin that is packed with vitamins and minerals like calcium and iron, e.g., “Soothe your stomach and boost dull complexions with noni extract.”
Try it: Carita Rich Lagoon Cream with Noni Extract, $118,
www.caritadirect.com.
Carita Is Putting On The Ritz
For many a beauty devotee, no trip to Paris is complete without a stop at Carita’s famous La Maison de Beauté. The brand was launched in 1945 by Maria and Rosy Carita, two sisters from Toulouse who came to Paris to apprentice with the hairstylist Gervais, before setting up their own salon on the fashionable Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Twenty-three years later, the duo opened their spa, the House of Beauty. The elegant, resolutely French line has been actively developing a cultlike following ever since thanks both to its products—the first launch, Fluide de Beauté 14, a nourishing dry oil for skin and hair, remains the best seller—and its powerful antiaging rituals, particularly the signature lift firming treatment. Now, at long last, there’s no longer a need to hop a flight for your Carita fix; the brand has chosen New York City for its flagship American outpost. Both the mineral-rich, skin-plumping Lagoon Hydration and the intensely purifying Fresh and Pure facial are worth a trip to the spa, located in the newly opened Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, but the real draw is the aforementioned Lift Firming treatment. After a thorough exfoliation with Carita’s Rénovateur products, a contraption called the Ideal Pro Lift machine fastidiously massages the face and décolleté to tone and smooth fine lines for an invigorated, slightly more taut and noticeably brighter complexion. There remain countless reasons to book a trip to the City of Light, of course—the Musée d’Orsay, Colette, vastly superior baked goods—but having this famous spa menu closer to home is a treat on par with a whole box of Ladurée macarons.
Carita at the Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, 2 West St., (212) 344-0800, www.ritzcarlton.com
Gemmo-Therapy Shines On
Between La Prairie’s platinum endeavors and Bulgari’s recent entrée into the beauty world with its private stock of fine gems, the idea of using precious metals and semiprecious stones in miracle antiaging skin creams is a bona fide trend. When La Mer put crushed diamond dust into its Body Refiner this spring, we thought we had seen it all, but Carita apparently had one-upmanship on the brain when it released its new Diamant de Beauté for pre-sale today. Combining uniquely beneficial extracts of diamonds with potent natural ingredients and the latest in scientific advancement, the cream is intended to launch a triple-action offensive, promoting skin regeneration from within. Diamond powder and tourmaline stimulate circulation and provide a brighter complexion, sequoia buds increase skin density, blue lotus cells fight free radicals, and two different biotech compounds work together to boost collagen production, tighten skin, and create a more even tone. The claims are lofty and the price tag even loftier (1.7 ounces costs a cool $600). The impressive clinical trials are substantive, though. In a test group of 57 women between the ages of 40 and 60, 78 percent saw a visible change after 28 days and 86 percent noticed a positive difference after 56 days. You could, of course, buy yourself actual jewelry for the same cost, but those of you for whom youthful skin is priceless might choose to invest your funds otherwise.
Rice Milk Does A Complexion Good
RICE MILK/(Rahys milk)/n./ 1. The grain milk processed from the starchy seeds of an annual marsh grass typically cultivated in warm climates and used for food; /n./ 2. The proteins and lipids in rice milk encourage moisture retention and cell renewal in skin, leading to a clearer and softer complexion, e.g., “A sweet solution for lactose-intolerant cereal addicts, rice milk is also a miracle worker for rough, dehydrated skin.”
Try it: Carita Rice Cream Cleanser, $49, www.caritadirect.com.