Skincare – Page 55 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Korres Quercetin and Oak Age-Reversing Collection

Korres Quercetin and Oak Collection is described on their website as, “Age-reversing skin care for younger, firmer, more elastic skin while dramatically reducing wrinkles and restoring skin elasticity and firmness”. As a forty-something woman, I could definitely use that! So I have been testing the Quercetin and Oak Age-Reversing Day Cream for Normal to Dry Skin and Age-Reversing Night Cream for about 10 days now and I am really enjoying them.

I use the Quercetin and Oak Age-Reversing Day Cream for Normal to Dry Skin ($48.00 USD) every morning after cleanser and serum. Some of the ingredients and benefits of the cream are:

• Regenerative Oak Extract firms and plumps aging skin, while radically boosting collagen and elastin production.
• Powerful Quercetin Active- The most active, well-established polyphenol for maximum antioxidant protection. It catalyzes Proteasomes in our cells, dramatically Improving Skin Cell Functioning: cells are turned back to a youthful state, creating younger, healthier and more elastic skin
• Proprietary blend of Shea Butter, Sweet Almond and Hazelnut oils provides instant nourishment and hydration.
• Mourera Fluviatilis constantly regulates the optimum hydration of the cells, maintaining their health and improving their quality
• Myrtle active extract enhances intercellular communication visibly increasing skin density, protects collagen fibers, and significantly boosts skin elasticity

The Quercetin and Oak age-reversing night cream ($52.00 USD) has the same basic ingredients with the addition of:

• Barrier-Repairing Everlasting (Amaranth) Lipids are naturally compatible with the skin and successfully control moisture loss while effectively repairing and restoring damaged skin.
• Time-release proprietary blend of Jojoba, Grape and Pomegranate oils provides instant nourishment and hydration throughout the night.

Both creams are thick, but not greasy, although the night cream is heavier. The day cream soaks in quickly — but you just need a little bit! I feel that my skin looks smoother and definitely plumper. I have been also using it on the back of my hands and they look smooth and very young (I am big on treating my hands well as they can give away a lady’s age!). The scent of the creams are earthy, but mild.

I recommend these products to really moisturize dry skin and give a nice glow. I haven’t noticed reduction in lines, but I have not been using them for long. I love that Korres uses natural ingredients and feel good about applying them to my face!

Visit www.korresusa.com to learn more and to purchase these lovely face creams. Enjoy!

Borlind System Absolute

Being 40 (-ish), I am always looking for skin care that can slow down the aging process. I am fairly lucky with my skin (not many wrinkles), but I do have red areas and larger pores, which help show that my skin is not as young as it used to be!

Annemarie Linder is a German pioneer of natural cosmetics and co-founder of Borlind cosmetics. She devotes her passion to creating natural beauty products like the System Absolute (advanced skin care for mature skin) that I have recently tested.

Borlind’s System Absolute claims to deliver valuable botanical hydrating ingredients and potent antioxidant vitamins deep into the skin. The products I have tried are:

System Absolute Cleanser ($53.99, 5.07 oz): A creamy emulsion which gently, yet thoroughly, removes dirt, makeup, and other pollutants. This smells great and is refreshing as it cleans.

System Absolute Beauty Fluid ($92.99, 1.7 oz) : A potent antioxidant gel which hydrates and strengthens skin’s resistance to environmental damage. I love this light gel that instantly absorbs into the skin and gives my skin a nice glow.

System Absolute Day Cream ($109.99, 1.7 oz): A rich cream which provides intensive hydration, care, and protection against environmental damage. This cream is nice, but is a bit heavy for me. I have to wait a while after application to put my makeup on.

System Absolute Night Cream ($109.99, 1.7 oz): A luxurious cream which works to smooth, restore suppleness, repair environmental damage, support regeneration, and replenish moisture and oil. The cream is too heavy for me that it borders on greasy. My skin does look good in the morning after use, but I have been breaking out.

After a few weeks of trying these products, I have found that I really like them. I do think they are made for skin a little more mature than mine, but I will continue to use the cleanser and beauty fluid as I enjoy the feeling and results I get with these products.

Visit www.borlind.com to learn more and to purchase these products or items from their other skin care collections. Enjoy!

Erno Laszlo Skin Care

Hungarian dermatologist Erno Laszlo created luxury skin care that’s purpose is to make skin look and feel better. I have tried a few products from the brand, and I really like the results I have received.

Antioxidant Complex for Eyes ($50.00 .5 oz) is a refreshing gel that contains botanical extracts to reduce puffiness so you look less tired, plus soothing skin conditioners to firm skin and improve elasticity. It also to “shield against age-vulnerable skin with ingredients that work synergistically to lighten dark circles, strengthen and protect skin.” I like to use this morning and night, but it can be used just once a day. I have noticed that my circles are lighter and the skin looks tighter under my eye.

I have also tried Timeless Body’s ($90.00 4 0z), a body serum. The ingredients, including marine and yeast extracts, are touted to “increase elasticity and prevent the breakdown of collagen so that body skin is less vulnerable to premature aging. Vitamins A, E and F, essential fatty acids and kojic acid diminish the appearance of wrinkles and age spots while firming and nourishing the skin.” I haven’t used this frequently, but when I have I’ve noticed that my skin looks smoother. I like to use a moisturizer on top, for maximum benefits.

My favorite of the three is the Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment ($50.00 4 treatments). This is a deep moisturizing mask that soothes and moisturizes skin. It is This is a two step product. You mix a liquid into a powder. I find that it was hard to get totally smooth, but it still worked very well. After I applied it, waited 15 minutes and peeled it off, my skin was so smooth. What a fab, luxurious treatment.

Visit www.ernolaszlo.com to learn more about and to purchase these incredible products.

Ole Henriksen Pick Me Up Tonic and All Purpose Aloe Vera Gel

Ole Henriksen creates skin care that celebrities, and regular folk (like myself) love. Mr. Henriksen had said, “My studies in cosmetic chemistry and experience from treating skin, hands on, has given me a clear idea as to the function and content of each product I have developed. This has resulted in a series of pure, natural, high-performance products that are forever evolving through my continued research.”

I am always looking for great skin care products, especially ones that will help my troubled combination skin by minimizing my pores. Ole Henriksen’s Pick Me Up Tonic ($21.00 7 oz mist, $30.00 12 oz) has really helped make my pores appear smaller. This oxygenating gentle toner claims to awaken skin & minimize pores. it contains alpha hydroxy acids, vitamin C & chamomile oxygenates and is paraben-free. I have the mist and I like to use it both ways. For intense toning I apply with a cotton pad. For a mid-day pick-me-up, I spritz it on my face. It smells fresh and feels great!

I also have tried Ole Henriksen’s All Purpose Aloe Vera Gel ($30.00 8 oz) — I love this product! I is a coolingoil-free gel that helps sooth skin irritations with chamomile. It is touted to help skin that is irritated by a rash, cut or sunburn. It can be uses all over the body. It feels cooling and soothes after a tough day. I used it one day when I burned my finger on my stove, and it helped relieve the pain.

Visit www.olehenriksen.com to learn about and purchase these and many more great skin care products.

Juara — Natural Indonesian Skin Care

Looking for a different type of skin care company? Juara skin care is a fusion active botanicals of Indonesian herbal recipes and Western science to create products that represent the best the east and west. They combine active botanicals such as rice, tamarind, turmeric, candlenut oil, healing teas and red sandalwood with modern technology and innovation to deliver quality treatments.

I recommend the following products from the line:

Rice Facial Cleanser ($25.00) — This gentle cleanser contains rice starch to remove make-up and also condition the skin. Rice starch also contains soothing and softening properties and is rich in amino acids and protein. I enjoy a good cleanser, I believe that it sets the stage for a good skin care regimen. I really love that my skin feels clean but not dry after this cleanser and is ready for my moisturizer!

Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Mattefying Moisturizer (oil-free) ($48.00) — My skin is combination and can get a little oily throughout the day. The website describes that, “this light gel-creme combines the age-defying benefits of fermented sweet black tea with the shine-reducing and purifying properties of ginger for a luminous matte finish. Completely oil-free and specially formulated for oily skin, it immediately reduces shine while at the same time helping delay and reverse signs of aging.” I have used other mattefying moisturizers that dry out my combination skin, but this lotion is so moisturizing — just not greasy! It is also paraben-free, alcohol-free, unfragranced and oil-free.

Candlenut Lip Balm SPF 20 ($18.00) — It’s lip balm season! At least for me it is — my lips can really feel the cold air and they are already becoming dry. This protective lip balm arrives in a very lovely mirror compact plus it relieves dry and chapped lips. With a great SPF 20, it will protect your lips from UVA and UVB rays of the sun with effective broad-spectrum sunscreens to help prevent aging and skin cancer. It contains candlenut, jojoba and olive oils and is scented with Indonesian citrus fruits. Very nice!

Visit juaraskincare.com to purchase these wonderful products. Enjoy!

Treat Dry Skin with DERMAdoctor KP Duty

Dr. Audrey Kunin is the dermatologist behind the great skin care brand DERMAdoctor. I was lucky enough to check out the DERMAdoctor flagship retail store that has recently opened in Kansas City, where doctor Kunin comes from and where I live. It is a very nice store and stocks all of DERMAdoctor’s amazing products!

I have recently tried a couple of items from the KP Duty line that was created to treat Keratosis Pilaris (KP). This is a common skin disorder, typified by “chicken skin” bumps on upper arms, thighs, torso, buttocks and occasionally the cheeks. Excess skin forms around individual hair follicles, creating the characteristic minute, rough, grater-like bumps.. The products I tried are:

KP Duty dermatologist body scrub with chemical + physical medi-exfoliation ($44.00) This scrub claims to help dry skin, flaky patches and chicken skin bumps. KP Duty Body Scrub acts as a chemical peel and microdermabrasion session in one, delivering serious medi-exfoliation. Some of the jobs it does is to allow dermatologist-recommended skin therapies to provide deeper, more thorough results and helps prepare skin for self tanning and post-bathing treatments (including body acne, keratosis pilaris, dry skin concerns, shaving bumps, ingrown hairs and bleaching).

Contains active ingredients including 15% Buffered Glycolic Acid – Smoothes the appearance and improves the overall texture of the skin. Superior alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) chemically exfoliates the skin by breaking down the substance that binds epidermal cells together, Lactic Acid – Potent AHA that retexturizes the surface of the skin by diminishing the cohesion of surface skin cells and stimulating cell renewal, Azelaic Acid – Offers antibacterial, keratolytic and comedolytic properties: inhibits the growth of bacteria in the hair follicle while normalizing the disordered growth of skin cells and reducing pigment abnormalities in the skin, Green Tea, Willow Bark & Algae Extracts – Reduces inflammation, redness and irritation while providing antioxidant protection, and Polyethylene Buffing Beads – Delivers non-abrasive physical exfoliation by lifting away dead skin cells.

KP Duty dermatologist moisturizing therapy for dry skin ($36.00) – KP Duty is a concentrated moisturizingtreatment with: Glycolic Acid – Powerful skin smoothing AHA, Sodium Glycolate – Glycolic Acid salt, buffered to prevent irritation, Green Tea – Botanical antioxidant powerhouse contains EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) to soothe and calm the skin, Urea – Dermatologist recommended humectant, Sodium Hyaluronic – Potent hydrating agent Dimethicone – Barrier/occlusive agent – reduces moisture evaporation.

I don’t have KP, but these products really helped my skin which becomes dry and flaky when the weather turns cold. There is no scent to the products, which is nice. Some lotions have such strong fragrances that they irritate and compete with perfumes. The scrub is so luxurious plus I saw a difference in my skin’s texture after a few uses. The lotion is very thick and moisturizing, but non-greasy, too.

Both products are dermatologist tested & approved, non comedogenic, non irritating, allergy tested, fragrance free, dye free, and pH balanced with no animal testing.

Visit DERMAdoctor.com to learn more about these products.

SLEEKskin Anti-Aging Skin Kit

I know that sometimes it is hard finding the perfect combination of products to keep your skins looking smooth and youthful. A good system that is easy to follow is what everyone needs. SLEEKskin Anti-Aging Skin Kit ($215.95) is a daily facial regime for women who want professional skincare that are easy to do at home, and gives a spa quality result. It is “designed to turn back the visual signs of aging and prevent further damage.”

The kit comes with the following products, with descriptions from the website (I have also added prices to buy the products separately). Also, the order that you see them in is the order that you use them day and night:

Glow ($38.95) is an exfoliating cleansing gel formulated to promote skin rejuvenation, even skin tone and to repair and defend against sun damage with an effective cocktail of Vitamin C, Lactic Acid and Green Tea antioxidant nutrients. Since Lactic Acid is less intense and less drying than Glycolic Acid, Glow makes an excellent cleansing choice for those with hyperpigmentation, dry, and combination skin types. Glow is also ideal for use as a daily brightening antiaging cleanser.

Boost ($38.95) a toner that improves skin tone and conditions skin with anti-oxidant Vitamin C and natural solvents and astringents that dissolve residue and restore pH balance. Vitamin C and Lactic Acid combine to promote cell turnover, repair sun damage, reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and encourage skin lightening.

Enriched with a combination of active peptides and proteins to supplement skin, Renew (98.95) is a serum that supports natural collagen levels to restore skin’s elasticity and promote healthy, youthful skin. This triple action collagen renewal serum restores the body’s own collagen, while stimulating new collagen production. With continuous use, Renew will deliver a more luminous complexion, re-contour epidermal cells and decrease visible lines.

A light-weight cream that relaxes facial muscles, nourishes skin cells and moisturizes, Transform (78.95) helps to achieve the appearance of youthful, healthier skin. Daily application can dramatically reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles thanks to the presence of muscle-relaxing Hibiscus Extract, as well as increase collagen production, improve elastin and skin firmness.

I like this kit, but I caution that these products are professional quality and are quite potent. My skin was a bit red the first few days I tried them. Now, I am used to the products and like the smoothness I am seeing. I especially love the Transform cream that you apply after the Renew. It is moisturizing and soothing.

You may purchase the kit or the products separately at www.sleekmedspa.com/boutique

Pink Venus Embrace — Get Closer to the Cause

Gillette has released a new pink Venus Embrace ($9.99 – $11.99) to help women “Get Closer to the Cause” of eradicating the spread of breast cancer. Every three minutes in the U.S., a woman is diagnosed with this devastating disease, so together with eight other Procter & Gamble^® (P&G) brands, Venus has joined the fight to find the cure.

I have tried — and I love — the Venus Embrace. I love that Procter & Gamble is donating to this extremely important cause. The Pink Venus Embrace comes with a breast self-exam “how-to” booklet. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, self-exams should be performed monthly (around the same time the average woman changes her razor blade). So, it’s a good idea to work them into your shaving routine; conveniently before or after shaving your underarms.

The shaver itself comes with these great features:

— A shaving surface that adjusts to the natural contours and curves of a woman’s body. This allows the blade cartridge to sit flatter on the skin for a closer shave.

— A Protective Ribbon of Moisture fully surrounds the shaving surface for a smooth glide.

— A Soft Grip handle that feels great in the hand and improves control, even when wet.

Read more about this great shaver at www.gillettevenus.com.

Clean up with FURTHER SOAP

Want clean hands and a clean conscious? FURTHER SOAP($18.50 8 oz) is made from the glycerin derived from the distillation of biofuel.

I really like using this hand soap. I love how it is basically a recycled product and is biodegradable. The scent is an infusion of essential oils of bergamot, olive and exotic grasses. It smells bright and fresh and cleans without stripping the skin. My husband likes it too, which is a plus!

They have recently created a candle made from purified waste grease from Mario Batali’s restaurant Mozza. It is the same scent as the soap, so I’m sure it makes the house smell heavenly!

Visit www.furthersoap.com to learn more and purchase the soap and the candle.

La Mer The Hydrating Facial

The luxury skincare line La Mer has released a new skin treatment called The Hydrating Facial ($250.00 for 6 applications.) This is a 100% cotton two-zoned mask that is claims to hydrate, nourish, smooth and condition skin and leave it with a healthy glow.

La Mer’s Hydrating Facial contains a trio of transformative benefits that are touted to make this new product so effective. They are:

Super Hydrators – The Sea Moist Ferment, a special blend of dark green algae gathered from all over the world in countries such as Japan, Indonesia, Brittany and the US, infuses the skin with intense hydration.

Super Anti-Agers – Marine plant algae such as Ascophyllum Nodosum and Aparagopsis Armata help to diminish visible signs of aging. Dark spots and discoloration begin to fade in appearance, revealing a clearer, more even complexion. The Hydrating Facial also contains cellular lipids and plant extracts derived from melon and avocado to provide a smoother skin texture.

Super Energizers – Ultra soft to the touch, the spun-lace cotton mask is embedded with tourmaline and Mariponic Ferments that energize and set molecules into motion. The Hydrating Facial mask drives the formula into the skin, boosting hydration.

When making The Hydrating Facial, a high energy inversion process is used to blend the formula together creating a liquid crystal structure. This gives the formula the properties of both a solid and a liquid. As a solid, the formula suspends and protects the ingredients while still on the mask. When applied to the skin, the formula has the properties of a liquid as it delivers activity to the skin.

Two use the facial, you place the top mask that goes over the eyes and nose first, then the second half that goes over the bottom half of your face. You leave on for 8 minutes, remove then smooth on the rest of the product.

I enjoyed this a lot. As the weather grows colder, my skin gets flakier and I need extra hydration. This is super hydrating and is a great evening treatment. I was also happy that I didn’t break out after the treatment. I used it a couple of days ago and my skin is still soft. Nice!

The Hydrating Facial will be available in October 2009 at select Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and www.lamer.com