Intro to Erno

I was just introduced to Erno Laszlo skincare and it’s quickly becoming a favorite. Erno Laszlo was a famous eccentric dermatologist from Hungary that came to America and opened an institute in 1939. His mantra is “Beautiful skin takes commitment, not a miracle.” (You’ll see that later on when we get to the famous splashing technique). Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn,  Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were all clients of his. I’m a sucker for luxurious products, so of course I was excited. Jeanie and Sherry gave me a bunch of good stuff to try, including sample of the Hydra Therapy Sleep Mask, which I mentioned here. I love masks you can sleep in, so I was especially excited to try this. I loved it so much I ended up purchasing the full size.

I talked to Julie, a representative from the brand to learn more about the line and get recommendations according to my skin type. At the risk of boring you with  too many specifics, my skin is pretty sensitive and acne prone. If I use the right products, everything can be fine. BUT, one wrong mask and I’ll be recovering from a breakout for weeks. I’m always wary of over-drying and make it a point to use lots of moisturizing products (think oils, masks, that REN emollient cream that I love).  I told Julie I had dry but acne-prone skin. We talked about it more, and decided on a program for combination skin, and she sent me these products to try. It felt like Christmas. Shout out to @shopanomie on Instagram for the photo inspiration)

How cute are those tiny bottles? When Jeanie and Sherry originally gave me the pre-cleansing oil and mini treatment to try, I didn’t read the instructions and was apparently using them incorrectly. Julie explained that you’re supposed to rub the wet treatment bar over the pre-cleansing oil on your face, and the two mix together to make a creamy emulsion. Much better results. I also got to try these eye creams. They’re all great, but I think I like the Firmarine best. The first one I tried, TranspHuse, is an age fighting, moisturizing eye cream. The Luminous is a detoxifiying, cooling gel. The Firmarine forumla hydrates for smoother, firmer under eyes.  Spirulina Maxima encourages collagen production & boosts firmness. Sodium Hyaluronate & Glycosaminoglycans hydrate, increase elasticity & smooth the skin. Aloe Extract calms, soothes & moisturizes. They’re all a clear, gel formula that doesn’t irritate my eyes at all.

Here’s the cleansing ritual I tried:

Before I use the Erno products, I take my makeup off using Bioderma cleansing water. Then, I follow with these four steps:

One: Phelityl Pre Cleansing Oil: For dry and combination skin types that want to remove impurities before they wash their face, it’s rich in 12 essential oils full of fatty acids to nourish and protect the skin. I’ve used cleansing oils in the past, (I use the ones from Shiseido because they’re extra soft). This smells wonderful and feels awesome on the skin. I take my time rubbing it in before I add the soap because it feels so great.

Two: Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar: Enriched with 26 essential minerals, this magic bar is supposed to detoxify, cleanse and hydrate. Here’s how to use it: Fill the sink with hot water, dip the bar, and gently rub the bar over the Face (the oil is still on the skin at this point). Repeat to create a rich lather and massage the face. Then comes the famous splashing technique. Splash 20 times in the accumulated water, then splash another 10 times with clean water. This is apparently the magic trick. I’ve seen bloggers/vloggers talk about gathering product from the bar with a wet Clarisonic brush and using that, but I haven’t tried that yet. The first time I tried this, I washed the oil off before using the soap, which was more trying. The two together is a perfect formula.

Three: Light Controlling Lotion: This is called a lotion but it’s what most of us would refer to as a toner. It controls surface oil while minimizing the appearance of pores. This is the product I was most hesitant about. I stay away from toners because I associate them with alcohol and drying out the skin. I was pleasantly surprised at this one. Clove Oil eliminates bacteria & serves as an antiseptic, while glycerin naturally binds moisture to the skin. The result is clean, refreshed skin and tightened pores. Sweeping it over the skin with a cotton pad (I use the ones from Shiseido because they’re super soft) gently exfoliates and it makes my face feel super clean.

These three products come in this set, which I’ll be purchasing once my samples run out/when my no buy February is over.

Four: Oil Control Day Lotion with SPF 15: It seems like a basic moisturizer with an SPF of 15, but I love the way the whole system works together. It’s described as  a moisturizer for oily skin that needs moisturizing, but also needs oil control. Glycerin plus antioxidant Vitamins A, C & E hydrate, repair and renew the skin. Avobenzone (3%) & Octinoxate (7.5%) protect from UVA/UVB rays.

Don’t forget to use the code TIRAMISU to get 10% off these and any other products you like at Elementsbeautyshop.com or in their Carytown boutique.

*This post is a sponsored collaboration with Elements Beauty Shop.  All opinions are my own.

Elements also partnered with Chic Stripes, Worthy Style, Sweet Caroline RVA and Kristel Poole. Be sure to check out their posts too!