Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder

Le Métier de Beauté's new, breakthrough Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder ($75) has finally arrived at Neiman Marcus counters. I went over to Mazza Gallerie today to pick up mine, Shade 1 shown above. Shade 2 leans yellow and can be worn, I think, by anyone with fair to medium skin. The third shade, 3, is markedly darker in the compact, but so transparent that even Michael (who has light skin) can wear it to add a little subtle color. A Peau Vierge fan might want all three shades for different looks. The compacts are generous in size, with a net weight of 0.40 ounces.

This Peau Vierge powder employs same proprietary delivery technology used in Le Métier de Beauté's skin care and the wonder-product many of you love, Peau Vierge. It's all about delivering the active ingredients in a way that produces a visible anti-aging effect while beautifying your skin. The patented delivery system allows this silky pressed powder - a color product - to also serve as a hydrating, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging treatment.

Enhanced with vitamins and antioxidants to promote long-term healthy and youthful skin, this subtly tinted powder provides the perfect smudge-resistant finish. Blended with unique micronized anti-aging ingredients to avoid clogging pores and protect the skin from environmental stressors, Peau Vierge Pressed Powder is lightweight, applies to the skin seamlessly, and creates an evenly toned, shine-free appearance without altering the natural color of your skin - all the while nourishing and promoting a a healthy and clear complexion. How exactly? Here are the major ingredients.

• TPM has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. It reduces redness, irritation, puffiness/swelling on contact. 
• Sodium hyaluronate, the salt of hyaluronic acid - nature's sponge - allows the powder to feel smooth and hydrating (not dusty or dry). Because hyaluronic acid can hold more a thousand times its weight, it will fill the space between the fibers that connect collagen and elastin, reducing dehydration and filling the look of wrinkling.
• Vital ET is a fast-acting bio-functional form of Vitamin E that is used in the treatment of scar tissue, sun damage, and rosacea. Delivering powerful anti-oxidants to skin, Vital E is very effective in preventing surface dryness, sunburn, and skin-irritation.
• Nylon-12, a synthetic alternative to clay, is the secret to invisible makeup. It is a sterile and hypo-allergenic agent that allows powder coverage to expand and contract with our facial movements so that it will not reveal itself in lines or pores. This bit of magic creates the illusion of naturally flawless skin. It is designed to provide a time-release effect for the other key ingredients by absorbing them first and releasing them slowly on the skin over time.

Michael Reinhardt applied the new powder to my skin today. I purposely arrived in the store without any makeup on. He prepped my face with Le Métier de Beauté's Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment after applying moisturizer. Then he applied the new powder in Shade 1. I asked him to apply it on only one side of my face so that I could see exactly what effects it had. He used a kabuki brush to apply it and buff it into my skin. Immediately after application, I saw that my skin tone was more even, the natural redness in my skin had been tamped down, and my complexion was matte. Interestingly, after 10 minutes on my face, the matte finish had morphed into a more natural look: not shiny, but not matte either. Beautifully natural.

My skin felt hydrated, and it looked good - as if I had on no makeup. I liked what I saw. Then Michael applied the powder on the other side of my face using a sponge. The lower level of the compact holds a large round sponge. A hint? Amazingly, if you press the powder into your skin using a sponge, the effect will delight you. It's surprisingly effective at evening the skin's tone and removing redness without depositing too much powder. We are not accustomed to applying finishing powder with a sponge, but we proved today that the sponge is included with the powder for a good reason.

Was Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder worth the wait? Yes, definitely. I think I'm going to have to purchase another compact because I'll need one in my bathroom makeup "inventory" and another for my desk at work.

You can find Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder at Neiman Marcus. If you don't have a Neiman Marcus and need help, call Michael Reinhardt or Chae Edwards at (202) 966-9700, extension 2258. They will be happy to help you select a shade.

The photo above shows all three. Shade 1 is shown at lower left; shade 2 is at lower right; shade 3 is at the top.

Photoss by Best Things in Beauty and a friend