skin care – Page 9 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

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

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

LUSH’s Fab Face Masks

LUSH makes wonderful, fresh beauty products for skin, hair, and bath time. I recently tried a couple of their fresh masks.

Oatfix Fresh Face Mask – This mask is described as “a delicious blend of banana, vanilla and oats to cleanse, soften and moisturize dry and sensitive skin.” This smells really yummy, like a dessert. It is a very gentle mask that does not irritate at all and softens the skin nicely. This is great if your skin can’t take harsh mud masks. It also makes a gentle scrub when you are in a hurry.

Love Lettuce Fresh Face Mask – “An effective, exfoliating face mask wich gives normal to oily skin a softened smoothed and radiant glow. Polishing almond shell is balanced by the skin softening qualities of almond oil and seaweed gel.” This is a great scrubby mask that will leave skin glowing. I like to leave it on for 5-10 minutes, then scrub it off with water for an extra bit of exfoliation. This smells like lavender, which is another ingredient, and is very green!

You can only buy the masks at LUSH stores. Since they are made fresh daily, they can’t be shipped. So visit your nearest LUSH store and enjoy!

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex ($47.50 for 1 oz and $74.50 for 1.7 oz) is Estee Lauder’s newest anti-aging serum, which is inspired by groundbreaking DNA research to give skin a dramatic reduction in the visible signs of aging.

The claim: Chronolux™ Technology repairs the appearance of past damage addresses damaging effects before they become permanent, and you’ll see a visible improvement in the signs of aging-specifically lines, uneven skin tone and immediate hydration.

Does it work.? I have been using this serum every evening after I wash my face for about 10 days, I apply it to my face, neck and the back of my hands. Where I have seen a big difference is in my hands. They are softer and younger looking. I have also noticed that the skin around my eyes is looking smoother. I think that I would have to use it longer than I have to see real results, but I can see that it does help. It also feels good going on and smells nice, too. I do see instant hydration with every application.

Visit www.esteelauder.com to learn more about this serum and find out how to get your own 10 day sample.

Nu Skin — Anti-Aging Specialists

Go ahead and hate me, I deserve it. For a woman of 40 (okay 41, I just had my b-day), I don’t have a lot of wrinkles. But I do have some on my forehead and the lines around my mouth (marionette lines) are starting to deepen. I also have big pores and a little redness. Aging is so much fun!

So, like many women of my age, I am searching for products that will make me look even a little younger. Nu Skin is a company that has a variety of products to help your skin be its best. Since 1984, Nu Skin has pursued creating quality products with premium, wholesome ingredients. This is luxury skincare, so it is not cheap. But I have found with the combination of the two products described below, Tru Face Line Corrector and Tru Face Essence Ultra, the lines I have look smoother and my skin is firmer and more even.

Below are the products with descriptions from the website.

Tru Face™ Line Corrector — ($48.00 USD) — Features revolutionary pro-collagen peptides that help soften moderate to deep lines around your mouth, eyes, and forehead. Medical science has recently discovered that peptides have the ability to send age-reversing signals to collagen-producing cells, promoting younger looking skin. Tru Face™ Line Corrector offers a targeted approach to help the most aggressive signs of aging in just four weeks. Gentle and safe for all skin types. Some of the benefits are: Reduces the appearance of moderate to deep lines and wrinkles, minimizes the appearance of dermal creases around the mouth and forehead, smooths the appearance of crow’s feet, delivers results in as early as four weeks. Clinical testing has shown continued improvement over six months.

Tru Face™Essence Ultra — ($180.00 USD) — Combined for the first time with the coenzyme Q10, TeGreen 97®, and a protective antioxidants network, the powerful science of Tru Face Essence Ultra helps restore facial firmness, promotes cellular energy production, and helps prevent future signs of aging. In clinical studies, this silky serum was proven to increase skin elastin content to youthful levels, enhancing skin firmness and elasticity. Tru Face Essence Ultra—leave sagging skin in the past and fight current signs of aging for firmer, younger looking skin now and in the future. Benefits are: promotes skin firmness and elasticity and fights current signs of aging with ethocyn®, an ingredient clinically proven to improve skin elastin, helps prevent degradation of elastin with elastase inhibitors, helps contour and firm the skin for a more youthful appearance and defines skin around the eyes, neck, chin, jaw line, décolleté, and hands.

I use these products twice a day. I first smooth the essence, which comes in single use capsules, over my face concentrating on the fine wrinkles around my eyes and my chin and neck. I then gently pat the line corrector in the lines around my mouth and forehead. The essence is a bit oily, so I don’t put it where I break out, my cheeks and forehead. I have been using these products for over a month, and have noticed my forehead “frown” lines almost disappearing and my chin and neck are is more firm. I am looking younger!

These items are a splurge, but one that may be perfect for your skin. Learn more at www.nuskin.com

Luxury Skincare by Kate Somerville

Kate Somerville is the creator and director of Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts which is a renowned medi-skin clinic in Los Angeles. She has partnered with top dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons to promote the integration of skincare and medicine. This has resulted in fantastic products that not only make your skin look great, it is very healthy too!

HydraKate Gentle ($65.00 1.7 oz) — This is a facial scrub that contains the naturally occurring enzymes, Papain and Bromelain, to help to digest dead skin cells and unveil luminous skin. The gentle scrubbing beads help to lift dry and damaged cells from the surface allowing the enzymes to penetrate pores. The claim is that “this unique blend helps to gently stimulate circulation, detoxify skin, refine texture and improve elasticity. It’s a must-have for clean, clear and radiant skin.”

I love this scrub! You are supposed to use it twice a week by applying a small amount to entire face. You then leave it on for 2 minutes only and rinse with tepid water. They say that redness may appear for up to 20 minutes due to the increase in circulation to the under layers of the skin, but my face only looks glowy and soft after I use it. It really gets rid of all of the dead skin and impurities in my skin and I have been known to use it more than twice a week!

HydraKate Line Release ($150.00 1 oz-) — This is sold exclusively through QVC and will be available at the Kate Somerville website in fall 2009. This is a very lovely serum (I call it my skin crack, because it is SO addictive)! Line Release contains a blend of peptides and collagen builders to help to improve skin texture and tone.

When I apply Line Release, there is an immediate tightening of my skin, and it looks so smooth. It can be applied either in the morning or night once a day. It includes “HSC Complex – Counters loss of lipids from skin due to washing, stress, environment or excessive UV exposure, Hyaluronic Acid – Aids in holding water in the skin’s surface to increase softness and suppleness and Leuphasyl® – Reduces the depth of expression wrinkles and is a safer alternative to Botulinum Toxin A.” I have never tried botox, but this gives me great results on my forehead wrinkles. Awesome! I know it is very spendy, but if you have the money go for it!

Check out these and other fantastic Kate Somerville products at www.katesomerville.com. Enjoy!

Biore Skin Preservation Collection for In-Between Skin

Are you at that age (25-35) where you can see that your skin is beginning to grow up? You don’t quite have as many breakouts and you seem to need a little more moisture? Biore has created the perfect line for you! The Biore Skin Preservation Collection is for transitional skin and helps by improving dryness, texture and tone and preserves skin’s youth, strength and radiance.

Each product in the collection is oil-free, dermatologist tested, hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic. The line contains Botanamide Technology which combines botanical antioxidants and ceramide based technology to preserve the youth of skin.

Here is a breakdown of the products included with descriptions from the website:

Clean Things Up Nourishing Gel Cleanser ($6.99 USD) – Collapsible vitamin E beads are part of the special formula that lifts and removes impurities, including the most stubborn make-up.

Even Smoother Microderm Exfoliator ($14.99 USD) – features the same ultrafine alumina crystals that are used in microdermabrasion, a process aestheticians use to help skin look radiant and smooth. Skin-conditioning Shea Butter and calming White Tea Extract are on hand to help soothe skin, with the result that it feels beautiful – not irritated.

Dual Fusion Moisturizer + SPF 30 ($14.99 USD ) — By keeping the moisturizer separate from sunscreen, the unique Dual Fusion™ moisturizer dispenser preserves the power of each formula. That means maximum effectiveness and protection for you. The sunscreen has a powerful zinc oxide base – and yet isn’t heavy and white like traditional zinc oxide. The product feels light on your skin as it offers superb UVA and UVB protection.

Hard Day’s Night Overnight Moisturizer ($14.99 USD) — This super-hydrating moisturizer gets part of its power from tiny collapsible beads filled with Vitamin E. The formula helps to strengthen the skin’s surface and smooth fine lines.

See the Future Fortifying Eye Cream ($14.99 USD) – The unique pin point dispenser precisely delivers the benefits of Botanamide™ Technology to the delicate eye area. It’s the ideal formula for women who aren’t yet ready for heavy-duty eye products. Safe for contact lens wearers.

Even though I am forty, I really enjoyed theses products. They feel great on and smell very fresh and not overpowering. The cleanser feels cool on my skin and really cleans without drying my face. The eye cream is very soft and lovely, and feels great on my eyes.

My favorite product would have to be the Dual Fusion Moisturizer + SPF 30. The top is a wide pump that has moisturizer in one side and sunscreen on the other. It took a little bit to get both products to dispense. My trick was to set in a bowl of warm water. I really love this because even though it has an SPF 30 — which is pretty high for moisturizer — it goes on smooth and creamy, and doesn’t sit on my face in a white mess! Very good quality for the price.

You can visit the Biore website at www.biore.com to learn more about the line, and check your local drugstore to purchase.

Juice Beauty — Organic and Fabulous Skincare

I really like the way the beauty industry is heading towards creating natural and organic products. Many lines offer natural collections, while other companies are committed to making only natural and/or organic products. To me, using natural ingredients on my skin makes perfect sense.

Juice Beauty is one of those companies. They state that, “what we feed our skin should be organic, healthy, nutritious and naturally toxin-free. Juice Beauty contains no pesticides, parabens, petroleum propylene glycol derivatives, no harsh surfactants or sulfates, no artificial colors, phthalates or synthetic fragrances.”

I was lucky enough to try some of the products. My two favorites are from the Green Apple Collection.

Green Apple Cleansing Gel ($26.00 USD 4 oz) This gel consists of certified organic, antioxidant-rich apple and lemon juices, purifying botanicals and soothing cleansers. It claims to remove lifeless skin and refine the complexion. I love the apple scent of both of these products, and the cleanser is very refreshing. I have been using it on my face and neck and I find it cleans my skin without drying it.

Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturizer ($45.00 USD 2 oz) This certified organic moisturizer includes organic apple, lemon and grape juices, nutrient-rich essential fatty acids, and alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, peptides and DMAE to replenish, nourish and firm aging skin. This is a very gentle cream that goes on smoothly. I do need to let it soak in a few minutes in the morning before applying makeup. But it’s worth the wait as my face is soft all day.

I reccommend visiting the website at www.juicebeauty.comto learn more about their commitment to organic beauty.

Olay Professional Pro-X — The Answer for Youthful Looking Skin

Olay Professional Pro-X Anti-Aging Starter Protocol

Olay Professional Pro-X is a scientifically advanced line of skincare that claims to give you younger looking skin in 28 days. Too good to be true? I decided to try it and find out.

I have been testing the Pro-X Anti-Aging Starter Protocol ($68.00 USD) for about four weeks. This includes the following three items as described by the Pro-X website:

Pro-X Age Repair Lotion with SPF 30 is designed and professionally tested to help shield your skin from harmful UVA and UVB exposure. This Primary Solution also hydrates to fight the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex is designed and professionally tested for the part of your face that communicates age the most: the delicate eye area. This Specialized Treatment hydrates to restore the area to its optimum appearance by improving the look of crow’s feet. Massaging it in reduces excess fluids to diminish dark circles and puffiness.

Pro-X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream is designed and professionally tested to smooth uneven textures with moisture, combating the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Well. My face looks pretty great. Especially around the eyes. The skin under my eyes is so smooth and that really makes me look younger. I love the Repair Lotion because it feels light and silky and even though it has an SPF 30, it absorbs quickly so I can put my makeup on right over it. I Use the Wrinkle Smoothing Cream at night and it is very moisturizing. Plus, when I wake up, my skin is glowing!

I recommend using this starter kit for 28 days to see what it can do for your skin. And if you think you need a little more care, try the Discoloration Fighting Concentrate to get rid of uneven patches, the Hydra Firming Cream to tighten the skin and the Deep Wrinkle Treatment for those stubborn wrinkles.

Visit the Olay Professional website for more information at www.olayprofessional.com

Sea Results Line Menders from H2O+

The Sea Results Collection from H2O+ claims to, “visibly rewind signs of aging with firming phospholipids and restorative sea nutrients.” The Sea Resulsts Line Mender cream and Sea Results Eye Mender Plus also claim to improve the quality of aging skin in 28 days.

The H2O+ website, http://www.h20plus.com, also touts these statistics concerning the Sea Results Line Mender cream ($54.00 USD), “Over 28 days of continued daily use, 97% of those participating in a consumer panel test reported their skin to be more richly hydrated and 95% noticed smoother, more even skin texture. There was a 22% decrease in wrinkle depth and 19% increase in firmness over that same period of time. In addition to softening dermal creases and refining skin texture, this multi-tasking formula also provides antioxidant protection to help reduce the effects of free radical induced damage. ”

People who participated in a consumer panel test of the Sea Results Eye Mender Plus ($36.00 USD) reported that after a period of 28 days of continued daily use, a 47% decrease in wrinkle depth, a 24% reduction in puffiness and 19% increase in firmness was observed.

I have been using these products for approximately 28 days and I have to say that my skin looks clearer, it is softer and firmer and my eyes look less puffy. My lines on my forehead are a little less noticeable. I think that if I use it a month or two longer, they will be even smoother.

I really do love this cream. It absorbs quickly and can be worn under makeup. That is a big plus for me as I have little time in the morning to get ready for work. The eye cream is thicker, but also absorbs fairly fast. Also, they both smell really great. They have a lighter version of the H2O Spa scent.

My verdict? The price is a bit high, but the quality is excellent. I definitely recommend this line!