April 24, 2016 → Style Chicks

Are you looking for a showstopper of a decorating piece? NOVICA’s Cuzco Sun Bronze Leaf Round Starburst Wall Mirror is your shining answer.

NOVICA Bronze Leaf Starburst Wall Mirror ‘Cuzco Sun’

Its worth a few words as to the sizing of this mirror. This is considered the Medium Size of the design at 18 However, the depth and striking appearance of the mirror draws the eye far more than a larger and less detailed mirror would. So if you want to place the mirror as a centerpiece among other items, the Medium is the right size. If you want a stand alone large piece for a wall, then you might consider the larger version. But truly do not underestimate the impact of this mirror. As with all decorative pieces, think about the impact more than the specific size.

This gorgeous 18 mirror comes from Peru and is made of Mohena Wood, a Peruvian hardwood, and is intricately covered in bronze leaf. One of the things I love about this mirror is that the bronze leaf is a definite bronze color with indirect natural daylight, but takes on the most beautiful gold color at sunset, just as the sun does itself. The artist has truly made a study of light!

I chose to put it on the mantle above the Living Room fireplace as we have other bronze items around the fire and because the vibrant color of the piece is so striking against the dark wood. The mirror would look good against any background, but I think the depth of the detail especially lends itself towards a darker, richer wood background. It was a bit of a toss up for me between the Living Room and the smaller Dining Room fireplace mantle, but the grain of the wood in the Living Room and the grain of the Mohena Wood looked sharper to me.

The mirror itself is 7.8 but appears larger. It is an exceptionally true mirror and shines vividly. If you are looking for a central vanity mirror you might want to look for a piece that has a larger mirror, however the reflection is excellent and stands by itself as a good mirror apart from the incredible craftsmanship of the frame.

The ARTIST

The piece was made by Jose Marcos Luzalde Rosales, who taught himself his craft starting at 17 in his neighbor’s workshop. At the ripe age of 18 he decided to go out on his own and became known (with good reason, as you can see) for his incredible work. He has delighted in preserving Peruvian Woodwork Artistry for 35 years now, and thanks to NOVICA, we can delight in his work as well!

I absolutely adore this mirror. It adds light and depth to the room and has drawn gasps from anyone who has seen it.

Find this incredible piece at Amazon.com.

NOVICA Bronze Leaf Starburst Wall Mirror ‘Cuzco Sun’

I received this item at a discount for review purposes. If you have any questions about the mirror, leave me a comment below!

Want an anti-aging program but don’t know where to start? Then this is a good kit because it has almost all of the heavy hitter anti-aging ingredients amongst the three products. These ingredients address puffiness and dryness immediately, lighten brown spots and acne scars quickly, and since topical Vitamin C increases collagen production, they reduce wrinkles and sagging over time (1-3 months). Sometimes wrinkles look worse due to lack of moisture or darkness within the wrinkle crevice, these issues may improve faster if these issues impact your wrinkles.

A veteran of anti-aging will also like the combination of ingredients that work in tandem to address multiple skincare issues.

This trio of anti-aging products is to be used together: a Vitamin C serum, the moisturizer that goes over the serum and an eye cream. I like that everything I need is together in one set since a good anti-aging program needs all three of these items.

NOTE: The moisturizer does have nut derivatives including Macadamia Oil, Coconut Oil, and Cocoa Butter

THE PRODUCTS IN THIS KIT
Vitamin C Serum: Hyaluronic Acid holds moisture so skin looks dewy and plump. It also helps the Vitamin C reach deeper into the skin. On application, skin feels tighter until it dries. Allow several minutes between applying the serum and the moisturizer to allow both to set properly. Does not sting, no real scent to it.

Youth Regenerating Moisturizing Cream
Vitamin C can be drying, so a good moisturizer on top is helpful, especially when Vitamin C is worn during the day. This moisturizer is semi-thick, (not liquid but not Nivea creme solid) and only a small amount with do the trick, I over-applied the first time. If you have ever used Creme de la Mer, you are familiar with the technique to hold the cream between the thumb and forefinger to allow it to warm up a bit and it will be easier to apply, I found this technique helpful in the application. There is cocoa butter in this and it has a semi-butter-like consistency. It took a while to dry down, so give it some time before applying your makeup. I generally apply it and do my hair, then my makeup to give it time to sink in and set.

Lots of good moisturizing ingredients packed into this including a Who’s Who of softening moisturizing oils including Grapeseed, Macadamia Nut, Flax Seed, Jojoba, Primrose, Rose Hip, Palm, Sunflower, Coconut, Avocado, and Borage Oils. Other ingredients include Co-Q-10 (Coenzyme Q-10), Vitamin B5 (a moisturizer and acne fighter), Aloe (to soothe redness), Arnica (for swelling and inflammation), and Cocoa Butter.

Youth Activating Eye Gel
Specifically addressing eye area needs including increased collagen production needs on the delicate undereye skin and the reduction of puffiness around the eye. This is via the Peptide Complex paired with Hyaluronic Acid to drive the Peptide Complex deeper into the skin. The Peptide Complex is a combination of proteins including MSM and L-arginine. MSM is used for connective tissue and collagen production which help the skin around the eye not sag. L-arginine is a reparative building block of skin that repairs burns and sun damage. There was no smell and it was not sticky to apply. Wait awhile before applying makeup on top of the gel. One pump should cover both eyes but you can apply it to the browbone as well.

SOMETHING I DON’T LIKE
Don’t like that the silver decorative line on the clear cap starts to wear off and ends up as little glitter sparkles that transfer onto my fingers and end up on my face when applying the product. To deal with this I just put some scotch tape on the silver ring.

And as much as I love a powerhouse of ingredients, I do have a some minor skin reaction to the daily use of the nut products, so I alternate this set off with other products during the week. If you don’t have this issue, then this is a great daily anti-aging set.

CONCLUSION
Good set with quality ingredients for both anti-aging beginners and veterans. It really hits all the anti-aging and moisturizing bases.

The only other thing you may wish to add to your regimen is a Retinol Serum at night, but using twice a day Vitamin C Serum is effective as well especially for jump-starting collagen production.

Find it at Amazon.com.

Derma Nu Anti-Aging Facial System

I received this kit for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with the product, leave me a comment below and Iâ€™ll get back to you!

Archives for April 24, 2016

NOVICA Mohena Wood with Bronze Leaf Round Starburst Wall Mirror ‘Cuzco Sun’

Derma Nu Anti-Aging Facial System