NARS Potent EFA Cream ($70.00 for 1.7 fl. oz.) is the third NARSskin product in my daily routine. While I told you about my two favorite PM products, the Hydrating Moisture Cream and the Aqua-Gel Hydrator, let me tell you about a third. It is a thicker cream than I typically use, but it sinks into skin incredibly well and doesn’t take all day to do it. The goal of this cream is to give you smooth skin with moisturization using their “lipid-enchanting” ingredients.
So, is it as good as the first two PM products? Continue reading →
The Surgery-Free Makeover by Brandith Irwin ($24.00) seemed like it was going to be a very interesting and helpful book. When I read the introduction, I thought I was going to learn all about which ingredients are good, which ones are bad, what treatment options I had to combat different skin problems, etc. I couldn’t wait to read it! For a book this length, I shouldn’t be able to summarize it in less than a page. It should be so filled to the brim with knowledge that I couldn’t possibly reiterate it all for you in a review, thus inducing you to purchase your own copy.
It is just not the case. The book is well-written, and there is definitely plenty of knowledge in it, but I feel like it is not quite the book I was expecting. The author pretty much recommends Botox, Restylane (fillers), and laser treatments for nearly every skin concern. I don’t know about you, but when I think surgery-free, I mostly think about creams, peels, etc.–not so much Botox, Botox, Botox. This is the message I get from the book. So, on the otherhand, if you’re interested in these types of treatments, this book is worth checking out. She gives a lot of information about how each treatment works, how it works as applied to a particular skin concern, the risks, etc. In that aspect, it is informative. I understand I went into the book with a different idea as to what constitutes surgery-free, so perhaps it makes it harder for me to be objective, but it won’t stop me from trying!
Find out what else I learned (like what over-the-counter cream is best), and why you might be interested in this book! Continue reading →
Simply Flawless O2 Anti-Aging Moisturizing Creme ($39.95) is a facial cream that utilizes Simply Flawless’ patented Oxygen Complex that contains RejuvenOx (TM) PFD. Basically, it is an oxygen molecule that has been shown to be able to permeate the skin layers to the lower layers. Many skin products are topical and tend to sit on the surface of the skin, so you don’t actually get nearly as many of the nutrients and whatnot as you could be using.
It comes in a pump container, which means no light gets in it and no worries about contaminating it with your fingers. You only need one or two pumps to moisturizer the entire face, which makes the product last you a decent amount of time. Even though it looks little, the 1.7 oz you get is about on par with many other mid to high end moisturizers. It is a concentrated cream, so a little is all you need; there’s no reason to pile it on, which means it should last you awhile. It can also be used both AM and PM, making it a multi-tasking product (but make sure you have a separate sunscreen product then!).
I liked that there was no real scent to this–a lot of fragrance-free products smell clinical, but this is fairly odorless. It also absorbs pretty quickly, and this is always an important factor to me, because I hate waiting for things to dry (anything!). It felt gentle on my skin, and I liked the way my skin looked and felt two weeks later–smooth, fresh, and soft.
You can learn more at www.simplyflawlesso2.com.
Karin Herzog Vita-A-Kombi 1 ($52.00) is a product that boasts 1% of pure oxygen and Vitamin A, which is a patented combination by Dr. Herzog. This cream is meant to be used both morning and night, and it does a whole slew of things. It promotes healing, increases cell regeneration, minimizes pores, detoxifies, hydrates, diminishes lines and wrinkles, and desensitizes sensitive skin.
I was using increased amounts of acne medications, and predictably, they made my skin more sensitive. There were few creams that I could use without feeling like my face was on fire. Vita-A-Kombi 1 was one of them, and even better, it can be used both morning and night. It is a fairly thick cream, and it does take some time (5 to 10 minutes) to sink into your skin. It is best applied with a light layer all over the face, but without rubbing it too much into the skin; instead, just let it absorb naturally. My skin looked refreshed, and it felt so soft.
My only complaint was that every time I used this, my boyfriend told me I smelled like old lady. So I ended up wearing this mostly at night, rather than day, because I didn’t want people thinking I smelled like “old lady.” Otherwise, the results were right in line with what I expected, and my skin was happy to use it for a few weeks!
The Karin Herzog line was the first to stabilize and deliver pure oxygen in cream form. The brand manufacturers their products in Switzerland, doesn’t conduct animal testing, and products are hypo-allergenic. Learn more at www.karinherzogus.com.
Olay is one of those brands that everybody has heard of, but you may or may not have tried. It has been around for so many years, you may have tried it eons ago, disliked it, and written it off (or loved it and have forgotten about it!)–but now is the time to head to your nearest drugstore to peruse Olay’s Definity line.
Definity is Olay’s line for “highly defined anti-aging” products. In just eight weeks, consumers should see a difference in their skin when using Olay Definity products–from brown sputs, dullness, unevenness, and wrinkles. These days, so many products tout scientific breakthroughts, miracle ingredients, and jaw-dropping pricetags. It’s hard to keep up, and I have always found that Olay makes it easy to figure out the right skincare regimen for you. For Definity, Olay is emphasizing its usage of the Glucosamine Complex, which is meant to help your skin retain moisture better, increase the regeneration of collagen, smooth lines and wrinkles, and increase your skin’s luminosity.
What products are in the Definity range? Continue reading →
EXUVIANCE is a brand I was recently able to check out, and one of my favorite products amongst the three I tried was their CoverBlend, which is a “concealing treatment makeup” that has SPF20 and is designed to really hide any skin imperfections from tone to ine lines. It is a smudge-resistant cream that lasts throughout the day. It is also water-resistant and non-creasing, which makes it great for even oilier skin types.
I can definitely appreciate a waterproof foundation in the summer months, just on the fact that I’m outdoors, and even if I’m not, I’m likely to sweat between the car and my destination anyway. Something that won’t break down immediately is so appreciated! I don’t know if I’d necessarily sport it to the beach and expect to walk out of the ocean with flawless foundation despite it being water-resistant, though. I interpret water-resistant to simply mean that you can splash your face without any noticeable damage, which is all I really need!
It comes in fourteen shades, and I always point out the availability based on range because it allows for more people to find an appropriate shade that matches them. And I bet you think this is pricey (I don’t know about you, but “Exuviance” as a name conjurs up connotations of luxury!), but it isn’t–get CoverBlend for only $22.50!
I also tried their Evening Restorative Complex ($30.50), as well as the Vespera Bionic Serum ($55.00). I really felt like the serum woke up my face, which is probably the result of all of the anti-oxidants found within this serum. Like most serums, it is pricier because it has more “good” ingredients. Serums are more intense than regular creams, they’re usually in a higher conentrate of the active or helpful ingredients.
Their Evening Restorative Complex was gentle enough for me to use on my skin without any problems, and it has a light scent of apple-citrus that is tolerable. It’s harder for me to judge the effectiveness of this product as I don’t have too many noticeable fine lines or wrinkles. I like that they label this as “Evening”, though, because nothing is better than when a brand takes the guess work out of skincare!
Learn more about or purchase Exuviance products at http://exuviance.com/.
