So this is a bit awkward.

After vehemently dissing BB & CC creams and calling them a beauty fad that must quickly die soon, I found one CC cream that I actually like!

Jane Iredale’s Dream Tint -
Tinted Moisturizer With SPF 15 (Peach Brightener)

Jane Iredale is a mineral cosmetics brand that I was introduced to by Kris of Kris Discoveries.

Kris was actually the one who gave me this sample of Jane Iredale’s Dream Tint because she somehow knew that I would love it!

What It Is

A multi-tasking tinted moisturizer which works to…

- Hydrate the skin
- Provide broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection
- Provide light coverage for a soft-focus, smooth and even complexion

The Dream Tint comes in seven different colors.

The color that I have is Peach Brightener.

The Ingredients

Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) 4.5%

Inactive Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Algae Extract, Sambucus Nigra (Elder Flower) Extract, Dimethicone, Jojoba Esters, Octyldodecyl, Neopentanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Root Extract, Boron Nitride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate

May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288)

Beneficial ingredients:

• Algae Extract – which works to moisturize and sooth the skin
• Elder Flower Extract – which has skin soothing properties
• Shea butter and Sunflower Seed Oil – which both moisturize and nourish
• White Tea Leaf Extract and Grapefruit Seed Extract – which provides anti-oxidants
• Lavender Oil – which is soothing for the skin
• Pomegranate – which provides anti-oxidants (though it’s comes in at the bottom of the list, meaning there’s a lower concentration of this ingredient in the product)

Ingredients of concern:

• Dimethocone – a form of silicone, and a concern for those  in the anti-silicones camp
• Algae extract – algae can be potentially irritating to the skin, depending on the kind that is used. Here, the kind of algae used has not been listed
• Lavender Oil – which has also been called into question for being a potential irritant

Ingredients of interest:

• Titanium Dioxide which protects against the sun
• Boron nitride, a mineral which in Dream Tint works to help diminish the appearance of wrinkles and give skin a silky feeling

How To Use This 

First, I put little dots of the tinted moisturizer around my face.

Then with a liquid foundation brush, I use small quick strokes to blend it onto my skin.

I didn’t get instructions on how to use this, but it turns out that that’s actually how you’re supposed to apply this!

The Dream Tint can also be used as a primer before you apply your regular foundation.

My Experience

There’s not much to the scent. The color of the Peach Brightener has a tinge of light pink.

The cream absorbs quickly. If you follow the directions and place small dots of the cream around your face first then blend with a foundation brush, you shouldn’t have problems with the cream drying too fast.

Once you work it into your skin, you barely see the tint at all.

The folks at Jane Iredale are not lying when they say that this product provides very light coverage.

For me, it does a good job of unifying my skin complexion.

If you have more troublesome skin issues, I would suggest dabbing on a bit of concealer first over dark spots and blemishes.

Wearing the cream, it feels very light and my skin stays comfortable and hydrated throughout the day.

The Results 

The cream smoothes over my blemishes and gives my skin a dewy glow.

You can’t tell much of a difference, at least in photos. But in person, the difference is definitely real.

This is the before photo…

And this is the after photo…

I also noticed that the more time that passes the better my skin looks.

While sitting at a restaurant a few hours after putting on the cream, my boyfriend Oliver seriously could not stop complimenting me about how good my skin looked!

And he doesn’t usually notice my skin

Later on, it tends to feel a little greasy though it doesn’t make my skin look greasy.

In Summary

What I Love About Jane Iredale’s Dream Tint

+ Very convenient. It acts as a moisturizer, sunscreen and foundation all in one go!
+ Makes my complexion look smooth and even
+ Blends like a dream. No streaks and no cakeyness.
+ Gives my skin a healthy, dewy glow
+ Keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day
+ Doesn’t oxidize/change into an orangey color or make my skin look greasy over time
+ My skin looks even better the longer I have it on!

What I Don’t Like About It

- Has ingredients that may be potentially irritating
- Feels somewhat greasy after several hours

Concluding Thoughts

There is A LOT to love about Jane Iredale’s Dream Tint!

This is an ideal product for people who don’t have a lot of skin issues to cover up.

The small sample size has lasted me long enough that I think paying that much for the full-size would be worth it as you only need to use a little bit of it to get the desired effect.

I love the convenience of an all-in-one cream (moisturizer, sunscreen & foundation)! Consider me schooled in the ways of CC creams.

What I love most about Jane Iredale’s Dream Tint is the way that it makes my skin look so smooth and dewy!

Before making the commitment of buying this product in full-size though… I hesitate about the fact that one of the main ingredients is algae.

I’ve been experiencing some bad skin reaction from other products containing algae, so I have a growing suspicion that my skin does not like algae.

So far, my rather sensitive skin has not reacted badly from using the Dream Tint.

And I think it’s because as I mentioned, there are different types of algae extracts used in cosmetic products and they are not all irritating to the skin.

But still, it does sometimes happen that skin becomes sensitized to certain ingredients after a while.

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How Much: 39.50 pounds for 50 ml or 1.7 fl oz

Would I Buy This: Yes, but with some slight hesitation about potentially skin-irritating ingredients.

Disclaimer: The small sample was given to me as a gift. I was not paid nor was I obliged to write this review. To the best of my abilities, I have given my most honest and objective review of this product.

A Quick Word About My Beauty Time: Kris is a former makeup artist turned entrepreneur who just recently launched her online shop My Beauty Time.

Support small and medium sized entrepreneurs! Visit the online shop My Beauty Time.

Happy weekend, my loves!

Don’t forget that today is Father’s Day! Be sure to call your pops and tell him how much you appreciate him.

Now here’s me quickly sharing with you some of my beauty favorites from the week.

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This Week’s LOVE

Cool milk baths on a hot sumer day.

It finally feels like summer in Paris! And because air conditioners don’t exist here, one simple way to cool off while treating your skin at the same time is to soak in a nice cool milk bath.

Just take one cup of milk and pour it in your bath water. Milk is a natural skin exfoliant, and will help to cleanse and soften your skin.

I also love doing this DIY milk mask!

This Week’s LINK

Riding The Bus In L.A. is a blog that has nothing to do with riding the bus in L.A.

You’ll find a good mix of things here.

There are posts that deal with beauty, like Beauty School Dropout and product reviews like this one, Beam Me Up – Benefit High Beam.

But what really keeps me coming back for more is the blogger’s humorous cultural observations on life.

My two favorites are People I feel Sorry For In The Music Business and The Intern.

The writer behind this rather new-ish blog goes by the name of Miss P. And she always writes with remarkable wit and honesty.

Talent like this should not go unnoticed!

This Week’s MAGIC

Did you know that babies, those cute drooling gargly creatures, have the inherent ability to recognize beautiful faces?

There are studies that show babies tend to stare longer at beautiful faces that adults would generally also consider to be attractive.

Is this proof that there is such a thing as a Universality Of Attractiveness???

This list includes places and activities that may be of interest for those who are looking for hidden gems in Paris.

Just to reiterate, this is by no means a comprehensive list. I don’t claim to be expert on all things in Paris. These are just a few of my own discoveries from the time that I’ve lived here.

Items 1-5 of this list can be found in Part I!

Now to continue with my list of 10 Not So Touristy Things In Paris…

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6) Eat At One Of The Few Vegetarian Restaurants

Healthy and tasty vegetarian meals are another one of those things that are hard to find in Paris.

If you’re a vegetarian, eating in restaurants in Paris can be a little frustrating. Local bistros don’t offer many vegetable options, and their salads will often have some kind of meat in it.

(Image taken from Saveurs Végét’Halles’ website)

I recommend Saveurs Végét’Halles mainly because I haven’t been to too many other vegetarian restaurants in Paris.

Ok, I’ve TRIED to go others. But I swear, every time, my efforts were always met with failure. Either the restaurant had shut down or their hours were really weird. And yes, I have been to others, but just because it’s vegetarian does not necessarily mean it’s healthy.

So for me, Saveurs Végét’Halles is my trusty vegetarian restaurant. They have a very good selection of healthy vegetarian as well as vegan dishes. I often get their steamed veggie plate with a side of lentils and a small portion of whole grains. Also, don’t forget to ask about their soupe du jour!

Saveurs Végét’Halles
Address: 41 Rue des Bourdonnais 75001 Paris
Tel: 01 40 41 93 95

7) Where To Drink Good Absinthe

I realize how ironic it is that my suggestion for eating at a healthy vegetarian restaurant is followed by a recommendation of where to drink good absinthe…

But life must be lived!

(Image taken from L’Express)

One excellent address for drinking absinthe in Paris is La Fée Verte, which means ‘The Green Fairy’. Don’t worry, I don’t think the absinthe here is as potent as the name might suggest.

La Fée Verte is where I got to experience for the first the peculiar process that’s involved in drinking absinthe.

I’ll do my best to describe it. First, you are given a spoon with a cube of sugar, which you must place over the glass. Then you use a contraption which may have been invented during the age of alchemy. It has multiple spigots coming out of it which allow you to slowly drip water down onto the sugar cube. And when I say slowly, I mean drop by drop.

As the water mixes with the absinthe, the liquor begins to change colors, often becoming white and cloudy. You can select from a menu of different kinds of absinthe and each one has its own special taste.

La Fée Verte
Address: 108 rue de la Roquette 75011 Paris
Tel: 08 99 10 66 84

8) Rifle Through A Vide-Grenier. Or Better Yet, Sell Off Your Old Things.

I love garage sales! I really do! And spring and fall are the seasons of the brocantes/vide-greniers, when people empty their apartment of things they no longer need.

You can find A LOT of good stuff during one of these vide-greniers. And professional antique-hunters are usually around and on the lookout for collectibles.

It’s usually organized as a neighborhood-wide event, so only residents in that neighborhood are allowed to sell during a vide-grenier. Consider yourself as having graduated from tourist status if you manage to sell off your old things during one of these vide-greniers

Also, be aware that certain districts and neighborhoods tend to have better stuff. The best vide-grenier I’ve seen was the one near Fille du Calvaire, in the 3rd and 11th arrondissement.

To find out when and where vide-greniers are taking place, you can go here (the site is in french but you can figure it out).

9) Explore The Passages

There are many overlooked passages in Paris. These are long, narrow, enclosed hallways tucked in-between buildings. And they are usually covered with tall glass roofs.

Many passages are shopping arcades, filled with tiny, unique artisanal boutiques.

Some people would point out that this one belongs in the list of “touristy things to do.” But on the contrary, I think the passages are not as obvious as other tourist attractions.

There is an element of mystery and exploration that I attach to passages. First of all, they are not easy to spot. And when you do find them, they are often quiet and empty. And you always feel like you’re the only living soul around.

10) Have A Picnic By The River

As the weather gets warmer, it is quite common to see Parisians sitting by the river banks with a blanket spread out and a bottle of wine.

It’s a marvelous (and cheap) way to hang out with friends. Everyone will usually bring something to the picnic. Bread, cheeses, dried meats and olives are standard fare. Sometimes someone will be inclined to bring a whole roasted chicken, a pot of ratatouille and even some oysters if they’re feeling fancy.

My absolute favorite part about picnicking by the river is waving to the boats of tourists that float by. It’s quite fun to see how many of them will wave back to you.

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That’s it! Hope you’ve found something in this list that tickles your fancy.

For more Paris and France related posts, visit my Paris Mon Amour series.