Diamonds Are Your Skin’s Best Friend — New Tata Harper Illuminating Moisturizer and Illuminating Eye Creme
When Marilyn Monroe sang about diamonds being a girl’s best friend in 1953’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, she couldn’t possibly have known just how true that statement would ring. Fifty-four years later, diamonds are popping up in the most unexpected of realms — among them, our skincare products. Eco-friendly beauty brand Tata Harper recently unveiled two skincare products designed to give dull complexions a radiance boost — the Tata Harper Illuminating Moisturizer ($85 at TataHarperSkincare.com) and Tata Harper Illuminating Eye Creme ($95 at TataHarperSkincare.com) — and their key ingredient is none other than diamond dust! As it turns out, even when pulverized, diamonds retain their phosphorescence so that, when these diamond dust-packed moisturizers are applied to the skn, the complexion is given a soft-focus finish.
While the fact that they contain diamond dust makes for an interesting story, these products’ potency extends way beyond this one illuminating ingredient. The Tata Harper Illuminating Moisturizer, for instance, contains 27 botanical ingredients that hydrate, soothe, tone, and firm the skin — among them aloe leaf juice, which calms and cools the skin; honey, one of nature’s most powerful humectants; jojoba seed oil, which is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids and helps to hydrate and smooth dry skin; fatty acid-rich shea, cocoa, and mango butters that condition and soften skin; willow bark extract, which boasts antiseptic and antibacterial properties, helping to decongest pores and fend off acne flare-ups; hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture from the environment and binds it to skin for long-lasting hydration; borage leaf extract, which increases the skin’s ability to retain moisture; antioxidant-loaded Spanish lavender extract, which has antimicrobial properties and is known to accelerate wound healing; and alfalfa extract, which is rich in vitamin A, a key ingredient in promoting collagen production and cellular turnover.
While moisturizers that contain cocoa, shea, and mango seed butter can often have a thicker consistency, this product is surprisingly fluid and lightweight, so that the skin practically gobbles it up as quickly as it would a serum or essence. The moisturizer gives my skin a cooling sensation upon contact, which I find incredibly soothing, and it’s got a golden tint to it that helps to liven up any fatigued-looking complexion. Moreover, after I massage it onto my face, I notice that fine lines are less noticeable, that skin appears lifted, and that I have that lit-from-within glow I so covet. Now, this product isn’t necessarily designed to eradicate dark spots over time so don’t mistake “illuminating” with “brightening.” This moisturizer gives skin an instant radiance boost while blurring any imperfections and it boasts hydrating and anti-aging benefits, but its key goal isn’t to tackle hyperpigmentation.
As for the Tata Harper Illuminating Eye Creme, this particular product contains a higher concentration of diamond dust so as to effectively reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles. A single pump goes a long way, so be very careful when using since you don’t want to wind up wasting any product (especially given the price point!). Not only does the eye cream feature light-diffusing particles that illuminate the under-eye area, but it can be worn atop your concealer for a radiance boost or even atop your eyelids to give them a touch of sparkle.
As for the eye cream’s ingredients, it also contains aloe leaf juice, Spanish lavender extarct, hyaluronic acid, borage leaf extract, mango seed butter, shea butter, and alfalfa extract, but it also contains a number of plant-based ingredients that aren’t found in the Illuminating Moisturizer. These include: milk thistle esthers, which inhibit UV-induced oxidative stress; antioxidant-rich olive oil, which helps to the skin regain its natural oil balance; eyebright extract, which has anti-inflammatory properties that help to minimize any swelling or puffiness in the eye area, and which also contains vitamins A and E; beet root extract, which contains vitamins and iron and which is known to give skin a healthy glow; date seed extract, a popular anti-aging ingredient; gotu kola extract, which decreases inflammation by improving micro-circulation and also boosts collagen production; and daffodil bulb extract, which contains IBR-Dormin, a natural compound that’s been shown to have anti-aging benefits.
Overall, the eye cream does help to disguise dark under-eye circles and minimize the appearance of crow’s feet and puffiness. And, since you can apply it to your lids, along the brow bone area, as well as below your lower lashes, it really does give the entire eye area a well-rested and youthful glow.That said, because it contains mica particles in addition to diamond dust, it can be pretty sparkly, so it’s best to use sparingly.
Both products are game-changers, but here are a few things to keep in mind. First, these products don’t feature SPF protection, so make sure to apply sunscreen before heading outside. If you’re going for a bare-faced look and aren’t intending on applying foundation, then try spritzing a sunscreen mist onto your face (like the Coola Makeup Setting Spray, which has SPF 30) in lieu of reaching for a thick creamy sunscreen that might dim the soft-focus effect yielded by the moisturizer (and, moreover, by the eye cream). If you’re opting for a primer with SPF protection (like the Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30, which I love!) make sure that the eye cream has been completely absorbed by the skin because, if it hasn’t, you might end up with smears and smudges of mica paticles in unexpected places (like the center of your cheek) which isn’t the type of brightening you’re hoping to achieve. Last but mot least, if you’re applying makeup and still want a radiance boost, you can always apply a bit of the eye cream as a luminizer, dabbing it onto your cheekbones and under the arches of your brows.
Let thrre be light!
