American Mom, Parisian Skin? Darphin Paris Review

Let's face it: French moms have it made.

They're skinny.
Their kids are well-behaved.
Their handbags are fabulous.


So it stands to reason that they've got great skin, too. Which should make me hate them all the more. But thanks to Darphin Paris, I got the opportunity to attempt luxurious Parisian skin right here in the good old (slightly-overweight, land-of-maniacal children) U S of A.

Pierre Darphin,who established Darphin in 1958 as one of the first beauty institutes in Paris, believed that a woman's skin acted as a mirror, showing the world a reflection of her life. For that reason, many Darphin products are known for their transformational effects.

If my skin is a mirror, than a little transformation is definitely in order. Stress, grief, and way too many M&Ms have turned my usually dewy decent skin into a dull, blotchy, tired-looking mess. I might even be starting to look (gasp!) my age...

Based on an analysis of my skin's individual needs, Darphin sent me three products: Arovita C Line Response Firming Serum, for combating the first signs of aging and renewing natural radiance; Ideal Resource Smoothing Retexturizing Radiance Cream, for minimizing pores and eliminating rough texture, dull skin and expression lines and wrinkles; and Anti-Fatigue Smoothing Eye Gel, which smooths fine lines, preserves elasticity and protects the eye area from environmental factors.

When my day is finally over—the kids tucked in, the dishes done, the dog walked, the day’s writing complete—it takes every bit of strength I have not to collapse, fully clothed, onto my bed and skip all those bothersome bedtime tasks. Like putting on pajamas. And brushing my teeth. Adding an actual skincare regime (instead of splashing water on my face or, more often, going to sleep with my makeup still on) seemed daunting. But the first thing I noticed about the Radiance Cream is that it smells amazing. Instead of rushing through my nighttime tasks, I found myself taking my time and treating myself to a minute or two of luxury.

Wide-eyed at 6AM. No makeup, no filter!

In the mornings, I discovered something even better. The Eye Gel? Uses caffeine as a main ingredient to combat dullness and signs of fatigue. Yes, that’s right—CAFFEINE.

As in coffee.

As in getting my first shot of salvation before I even pour my first cup.

Brilliant.

The Firming Serum, the second component of my new AM Darphin regime, was lightweight and almost sticky going on, but in seconds it dried to an invisible, silky finish. When I layered the Radiance Cream on top of it, something unthinkable happened—my pores, the bane of my existence since middle school—actually looked smaller. Much smaller. Almost like a foundation primer, the combination of the Serum and the Radiance Cream gave me a noticeably smoother, brighter complexion.
After a few days, the improvements in my complexion were noticeable. I even skipped my daily application of tinted moisturizer and concealer, applying a quick swipe of sunblock instead. Then I dabbed on mascara and some lip gloss…and hit the road.

Shaving a few minutes of my hectic morning routine was lovely. I even got to take a few extra sips of coffee before I herded the kids out the door. And I’d like to think that my preschool mom friends noticed my sophisticated, glowing Parisian-esque skin (and overlooked the fact that I was wearing the same outfit two days in a row. Oops).

I may not be skinny.
My kids might be a far cry from angelic.
But I can still rock a fabulous handbag.
And my skin can still look great.

Darphin Paris calls itself “more than skincare, an art.” If transforming my dull, exhausted, never-stop-moving Mom complexion into glowing skin with that certain je ne sais quoi can be considered an art form (and not an act of divine intervention), I’m inclined to agree.

And here's the even better news: Darphin is giving away skincare products, valued at a minimum of $100! To enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win, please check out the rules and leave a comment below answering the question "What Darphin product would you like to try, and why?"


Plus, Darphin has a special offer (one of their best!) just for readers of this post: Get a free Age Defying Dermabrasion Deluxe Sample, Dark Circles and De-puffing Eye Serum Deluxe Sample and Spa Headband with any order at Darphin.com through 5/31/12. Use code BLOGGER at checkout.

Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 4/23 – 5/24
Be sure to visit the Darphin brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!


As always, all writing and opinions on Karma (continued...) are strictly my own.