Personalized skin care has always been something enticing to try. Who wouldn’t want something custom blended to meet their skins needs? If this idea appeals to you then you should definitely read on about what Vain Pursuits is all about! Based in Montreal, Vain Pursuits is the first in North America to be your online concierge to personalized skin care products.
How do they do it?
After filling out a brief beauty profile, the Vain Pursuits team carefully selects products based on your answers such as “I hate fragrance”, “I need a thick night cream”, etc to help you discover the perfect product. In my case, my Beauty Advisor, Ruby selected different moisturizers to try that could be used morning, day or night.
What do you do next?
After your samples arrive, you’re asked how you like the products fragrance, texture and results by doing a spot test on your wrist or hand. I always feel that facial skin needs to get a spot test too, after all its going there in the first place. And ask yourself, did you love it? Or leave it?
I was sent: Soft-Spoken: Day lotion Blissed Out: Night Lotion and Over Protective Facial Milk
Soft Spoken Day Lotion was fragranced with a light citrus that I think I would prefer with no fragrance. While it did feel nice, I ultimately felt like it was too thick for overall daily use. Even on the back of my hand I felt slightly waxy when I went back to see if it left residue behind. While it may be filled with anti-oxidants I’m looking for something much lighter for my skin during the day since I usually wear makeup too. I don’t think this worked well with BB Cream over it in my opinion.
Blissed Out Night Lotion utilizes a rare blend of oils to restore the skin while sleeping. It is also supposed to be non-pore clogging. I definitely use a moisturizer at night after washing my face or else it just doesn’t feel right. I always like something light that sinks in immediately. Having normal to sensitive skin and not dry, rough skin I need something almost serum like to not feel like a mask. Unfortunately, when
I mentioned I like soft florals I should have remembered to say I hate lilac, lavender and incense type scents. I loved the feel of this night lotion I really did, but the scent needs to go. I like that this formula uses red, white and green teas to firm the skin with its antioxidant powers. I continued to use this sample until it was finished at night mostly on my forehead and temple areas.
Over-Protective Facial Milk is an all-in-one moisturizer to be used at anytime. It’s pollutant-fighting and anti-aging qualities are owed to the formula including Vitamin E, C and D. This all-in-one formula works to keep dark spots at bay while protecting the skin from daily life hits. I found that this one was also a little bit thicker than I had hoped and that the fragrance should not be included. I think I realize that I do not like “natural scenting” and should just go without. I have a feeling it was the shea butter that gave it a waxy feel in my opinion.
Of all three moisturizers sent to try I preferred the “Blissed-Out” night lotion the most for its feel. When I let my Beauty Advisor Ruby know I’m done testing I let her know which I liked the most (in my case, Blissed Out) and tell her I’d prefer it fragrance free, but that’s the only change I would make. If I had to make suggestions on the other ones I think Id ask the Soft-Spoken to feel more gel-cream like instead of waxy lotion feel.
After the samples what happens?
After you finish testing your sample sizes, you let your B.A know what you did and didn’t like. They then work to reformulate specific to your requests to give you your perfect product. When you finally create the product of your dreams , the initial $20 personalization fee you spent is applied towards the full sized product which costs anywhere from $45-$80 each.
I do love the idea of having something personalized to my own specific needs, but I always wonder do people
always understand or know whats best for their skin? Or a stranger? Hmm. I think that’s for each person to decide. I think I generally know what I like and need for my skin and usually the simpler the better. I think for others it may help that a Beauty Advisor will guide you through each step of the process to make sure you are on the right track in discovering your holy grail moisturizers. I think I’d be more curious about a custom blended facial serum when I think of it!
If you’d like to find out more about the program I urge you to visit their site and sign up and be added to the list! It’s a very new program so be sure to keep an eye out in your mailbox for when they contact you to create your beauty profile. You can easily find them on facebook, twitter, pinterest and instagram!
Have you also given Vain Pursuits a test drive? What did you think of their process? What product did you create? Share in the comment below.
