First Aid Beauty Dual Repair Review: My Final Thoughts

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For the past two months, I've been testing First Aid Beauty's Dual Repair Line, and I confess that I've been itching to share my final thoughts with you!

So, this is my new favorite in between product testing anti-aging skin care. Hands down. No contest.

And I'm not the only one! I've been talking about it with friends like crazy outside of all my blogging stuff, and you should hear their reactions. They're emailing, texting and Facebook messaging me to thank me for letting them know about this line. I've never had this happen before. Yes, they've bought things I've tested and liked before, and if I run into them they'll casually mention it and let me know what they thought. But, I've never had them coming back to me en masse via all available forms of communication, because they can't wait to share with me how much they love it!

The reason we're all so gaga for the Dual Repair line really goes back to the First Aid Beauty philosophy of repairing your skin's barrier function. Good Barrier Function = Happy Skin = Glowy Skin (and I like Glowy Skin). When you look into what First Aid Beauty includes in their products (but especially the Dual Repair line, check out my post on Dual Repair's Active Ingredients), you'll see that they've included a lot of moisturizers and ingredients that help to decrease inflammation, have anti-oxidant activity and peptides to help increase collagen production. What you won't see are ingredients that irritate your skin. That tingling or redness you get after using a product? That doesn't mean that it is working. That means it is damaging your skin!

2

First Aid Beauty Skin Care: Overview of the Dual Repair Line and My Impression So Far

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I recently started my First Aid Beauty skin care routine, and while I've shared more information about First Aid Beauty's philosophy, I have been slacking a bit on doing my full post with what I'm using, what is in each product and why it works. Finally, I'm spilling the beans!

What sets Dual Repair apart from other anti-aging skin care lines is that in addition to providing ingredients to help fight and prevent aging, First Aid Beauty also supports the skin's barrier function. There are a lot of ingredients to soothe skin, support barrier function (aka- moisturize with emollients and ceramides), and as I said in my intro post to this series, Good Barrier Function = Happy Skin = Glowy Skin and I like Glowy Skin.

To help fight aging the Dual Repair line includes a proprietary blend of ingredients in all three products:
• Astaxanthin (algae extract in the ingredients list): This is a very potent antioxidant derived from a micro-algae extract.
• SymCalmin: A proprietary blend of Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid. The blend (derived from Oats) has anti-itch, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties!
• Lana Blue: Derived from a blue algae, this actually has some retinoid activity, without being a retinoid.
• Argireline (Hexapeptide or Acetyl Hexapeptide-8): This is a Peptide to help stimulate collagen production and prevent its breakdown.


Dual Repair Eye Cream
This eye cream is very lightweight like a lotion, but it seems to provide more moisture. It doesn't leave a residual film on my skin at all, though it does hydrate the under eye area very well and the result is that my concealer goes on very smoothly and looks better. Who can argue with that?

While the Eye Cream has the same active ingredients that I mentioned above, it has some additional ingredients just for the under eye area and its special problems. Sodium Phytate and Glucosyl Hesperidin were added to reduce the look of puffiness and undereye circles.
• Sodium Phytate is an antioxidant often derived from Rice, it also acts as a chelating agent, taking up metals and modulating enzymes in the skin.
• Glucosyl Hesperidin helps to increase circulation to the area, decreasing the appearance of circles and helping to reduce swelling.

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silybum Marianum Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Sorbitol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Methicone, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Algae Extract, Phenyl Methicone, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysilicone-11, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Astaxanthin, Tocopherol

Note that the key ingredients are in blue above, here's more info on the other ingredients:
• Moisturizers (read more about moisturizer types): Glycerin (humectant), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate (emollient), Pentylene Glycol (humectant), Sorbitol (humectant)
• Ascorbyl Glucoside: A stable form of Vitamin C
• Phenoxyethanol: Paraben alternative for preserving the whole thing (no one like their lotion to go bad!)
• Ethylhexyl Palmitate: A palm oil derivative that gives skin care items that "slip"
• Licorice Root: Helps to decrease melanin production, so can help with hyperpigmentation
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (aka: White Tea Extract): Contains polyphenols, which are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, though they even suppress cancer. While most of the research into these effects used intake of the polyphenols rather than topical use, "most researchers agree that tea (black, green, or white) has potent anti-inflammatory properties and that it is a potent antioxidant whether consumed orally or applied topically"
• Feverfew: Anti-inflammatory that also helps to decrease redness
• Hydrogenated Lecithin: Good to help preserve barrier function, read more at Truth in Aging
• Algae Extract: Lots of antioxidants as well as other minerals.
• Allantoin: Moisturizing, helps to slough dead skin cells and anti-inflammatory all at once!
• Tocopherol (Vitamin E): An antioxidant






Dual Repair Serum
I've found that this serum is more hydrating than many other serums. I don't need to add in the moisturizer in the morning when using the serum (it's too much moisture for my skin and I get greasy later in the day), serum alone is perfect for my combination skin. The serum also has the highest concentration of active ingredients, so if you're going to pick 1 product, this is the one to pick!

Dual Repair Power Serum contains concentrated levels of the Dual Repair key actives. It is enhanced with Diacetyl Boldine to improve skin tone and Siegesbeckia Extract to calm the skin.

Note that this is the product with Retinyl Palmitate. It's safe to use while nursing, but if you're pregnant (or trying to get pregnant), skip the serum and just use the moisturizer and eye cream.


Ingredients:
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Siegesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Algae Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Tromethamine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Diacetyl Boldine. Astaxanthin, Tocopherol

Note that the key ingredients are in blue above, here's more info on the other ingredients:
• Dimethicone: A silicone to help things glide nicely (probably part of the reason concealers like this so much!)
• Moisturizers (read more about moisturizer types): Glycerin (humectant), Pentylene Glycol (humectant), Sorbitol (humectant)
• Hydrogenated Lecithin: Good to help preserve barrier function, read more at Truth in Aging
• Ascorbyl Glucoside: A stable form of Vitamin C
• Retinyl Palmitate: Retinoid
• Algae Extract: Lots of antioxidants as well as other minerals.
• Phenoxyethanol: Paraben alternative for preserving the whole thing (no one like their lotion to go bad!)
• Licorice Root: Helps to decrease melanin production, so can help with hyperpigmentation
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (aka: White Tea Extract): Contains polyphenols, which are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, though they even suppress cancer. While most of the research into these effects used intake of the polyphenols rather than topical use, "most researchers agree that tea (black, green, or white) has potent anti-inflammatory properties and that it is a potent antioxidant whether consumed orally or applied topically"
• Feverfew: Anti-inflammatory that also helps to decrease redness
• Allantoin: Moisturizing, helps to slough dead skin cells and anti-inflammatory all at once!
• Tocopherol (Vitamin E): An antioxidant




Dual Repair Face Cream
The cream is more like a traditional night cream in that it is thicker and more hydrating than a day lotion. I think it does sink in quickly and completely enough to use under makeup, but the amount of hydration in the product is just a little too much for every day use in the morning for my combination skin. I've been using it at night, and if there's a day my skin feels a bit dry or irritated (I hate that it is still in the 20's here in Michigan!), then I've been using this a little on my cheeks and other dry spots in the morning as well. While it has heavy duty moisture, the cream hasn't otherwise been an issue. It's non-comedogenic, and I haven't had any increase in clogged pores or blemishes.

First Aid Beauty did conduct some independent research and they found that after 6 weeks of twice daily use:
• 88% reported an improvement in the texture of their skin
• 84% reported that the product calmed and soothed the skin
• 81% reported a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• 81% reported an improvement in the moisture level of their skin


Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Silica, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Methicone, Styrene Butadiene Copolymer, Sorbitol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenyl Methicone, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Algae Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Xanthan Gum, BHT, Allantoin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polysilicone-11, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Sodium, Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl, Hexapeptide-8, Astaxanthin, Tocopherol

Note that the key ingredients are in blue above, here's more info on the other ingredients:
• Moisturizers (read more about moisturizer types): Glycerin (humectant), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate (emollient), Pentylene Glycol (humectant), Sorbitol (humectant), Sunflower Seed Oil (emollient), Safflower Seed Oil (occlusive)
• Dimethicone: A silicone to help things glide nicely.
• Ethylhexyl Palmitate: A palm oil derivative that gives skin care items that "slip"
• Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil: Emollient moisturizer with antioxidant properties
• Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter): This is super popular as a moisturizer because while it acts as an occlusive, it also acts to replace the body's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) more directly than other emollients, really helping to reduce dry and flaky skin.
• Phenoxyethanol: Paraben alternative for preserving the whole thing (no one like their lotion to go bad!)
• Hydrogenated Lecithin: Good to help preserve barrier function, read more at Truth in Aging
• Licorice Root: Helps to decrease melanin production, so can help with hyperpigmentation
• Feverfew: Anti-inflammatory that also helps to decrease redness
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (aka: White Tea Extract): Contains polyphenols, which are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, though they even suppress cancer. While most of the research into these effects used intake of the polyphenols rather than topical use, "most researchers agree that tea (black, green, or white) has potent anti-inflammatory properties and that it is a potent antioxidant whether consumed orally or applied topically"
• Algae Extract: Lots of antioxidants as well as other minerals.
• Allantoin: Moisturizing, helps to slough dead skin cells and anti-inflammatory all at once!
• Ascorbyl Glucoside: A stable form of Vitamin C
• Tocopherol (Vitamin E): An antioxidant






How I'm Using the Products & What I Think So Far
Basically, I'm using the entire First Aid Beauty Dual Repair line, with the First Aid Beauty Facial Cleanser that I reviewed a few weeks ago.

All of the Dual Repair products can be used twice a day, and to get the most out of the ingredients (I'm a bit in awe of how much is packed into these bottes!) I would probably use the serum, then eye cream and finally the face cream. This order will let the better penetrating serum get on your skin first, then the eye cream and finally the Face Cream can kind of seal it all in to your skin.

You should always listen to your skin, and mine definitely seemed to be saying to me that the cream is a bit too much moisture for my skin to use twice a day, every day. So, I've been sticking to the eye cream and serum in the morning, and adding in the face cream at night. I definitely will use a bit of the face cream on days that I feel a bit dry, we're still stuck in winter mode here in Michigan and a bit too much time outside means I'll be using cream the next morning.

As I've been using the line, here's what I've found:
• All three products have a little scent, but it isn't much and it goes away after everything is absorbed into your skin.
• All three products sink into my skin very quickly without any residue left behind, which means they're great under makeup.
• The Eye Cream especially seems to do a great job under makeup, it does something to my under eye area which makes my concealer look flawless. Flawless. Immediately I look awake. Love that.
• None of the products have caused any stinging, sensitivity or other issues.

I often have dryness and irritation issues with my skin this time of year. Since starting the Dual Repair products, my skin has definitely been happy. I have no dry patches and my redness has improved (I have rosacea) as well I feel like my skin tone is evening out a bit just because everything is happier. I'm definitely happy that my First Aid Beauty time fell during what is the roughest time of year for my skin!

What do you think, could the Dual Repair line work for you?




First Aid Beauty
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8

First Aid Beauty & 15 Minute Beauty Twitter Party, Did You Miss It?

Products sent for review
Note that while I currently have a sponsored post series with First Aid Beauty and they have sent me products to review, this overview of the questions is here because I wanted to answer everything from the Twitter party. I felt guilty not answering everyone's questions!

So, yesterday was the big day! The Twitter Party with First Aid Beauty that I was somewhat dreading. I've attended Twitter Parties, was a very active "participant"/junior co-host-ish person once, but I was definitely nervous about co-hosting with the FAB Skin Care team, which included Lilli Gordon, the founder! (For the record, Lilli seems to be a super nice person and very approachable and normal, but I'm very impressed with her and that makes me even more nervous.)

Anyways, I was convinced that no one would show up. It would be me and Lilli on Twitter... cue the crickets. Instead, what happened was basically the complete opposite! I was so happy that so many of my readers showed up for the party! There were so many attendees that we were the #3 trending hashtag in the US for a good party of the party. There were so many tweets flying left and right that there was no way to answer all of the questions, and I felt horrible about it! So, I thought I'd grab the questions from the party and address all of them here. Some were specific to First Aid Beauty and their new Dual Repair line, but some were general skin care questions.


The most popular questions were definitely regarding exfoliation, really in response to some prompting from me.

Here's the deal with exfoliation:
• Everyone should do it. It is for every skin type, without exception.

• There are 2 basic ways to exfoliate: chemicals or physical. So, peels/exfoliating skin care products or a scrub.

• When exfoliating on your own, you must pay attention to your skin. Everyone's skin is different, especially if you are using other products that could be irritating like a retinoid. What your cousin's skin handles easily will be different than your sister's skin and hers will be different than your own. At home, at the most your skin should feel flushed and smoother and well scrubbed after exfoliating. It shouldn't actually be red (flushed and red are not the same), it shouldn't burn or sting later on, and you certainly shouldn't cringing at your face.

• You can have much deeper/invasive peels, but they really should only be done with professional supervision. Yes, peels can remove scars and sun damage. They can rebuild your dermis and give you a brand new skin texture with less hyperpigmentation. But, they can really damage your skin in the long run, so save the heavy duty stuff for the pros.

• If you're going to do it at home, you can do light chemical exfoliation (a'la the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, which are gentle enough to use every day), or physical with a scrub, a Clarisonic or even just a rough washcloth. The best option will depend upon the person, as will the frequency. But, just pay attention to your skin, what you can handle, and remember to wear sunscreen afterwards!

Another Question:
@15minbeauty @FirstAidBeauty I need a good body exfoliating scrub. #FABSkin

I actually haven't found a good body scrub for quite a while, my favorite was taken off of the market (it was from L'Oreal). Instead I use the Beautisol Deep Exfoliating Mitt.

@FirstAidBeauty @15minbeauty Do you know if the FAB facial radiance pads are 'safe' to use with Retin-A? #FABskin

Everyone's skin is different, and before starting the Facial Radiance Pads you should probably do a small patch test before starting if you have sensitive skin or are using a product like Retin A. Some people can handle both, some people won't be able to use both. I'd try a small area and see what happens. Listen to your skin!

@15minbeauty How do we choose the #anti-aging #skincare good for my skin? #FABSKIN

I have a whole post on how to start using anti-aging skin care.

@15minbeauty what's a good way to get a more even skin tone? #FABSKIN

It depends on why your skin tone is uneven, but in general it is best to have some light exfoliation, lots of moisture to support the skin's barrier function and broad spectrum UV protection (at least SPF 15, 30 is better) to prevent hyperpigmentation.

@15minbeauty anything for skin tags on the neck area as we age? #FABSKIN

Unfortunately, no. You pretty much just need to have them removed.

@15minbeauty any recommendations for skin redness, especially around the nose and cheek area? what products should I be trying #FABSkin

If you have a lot of redness, you might want to talk to your physician about whether you could have rosacea. I have redness in those areas (yeah! I have rosacea too!), I've found it is less when I'm less irritated, so using gentle products and staying out of the cold wind pretty much. Lot of extra moisture and some soothing products definitely help as well. I've had good luck with the Instant Oatmeal Mask, but FAB also makes an Anti-Redness Serum, though I haven't tried that yet.

what's good for an oily forehead? @FirstAidBeauty #fabskin
@15minbeauty what do you suggest we use if we have combination skin? #FABSKIN

Like other skin types, I think a gentle cleanser and a moisturizer as well as SPF are what you need. Oily skin doesn't mean your skin doesn't have moisture, so you do still need the moisturizer, though likely a lighter weight one than someone with non-oily skin. Don't over wash your skin, it will increase your oil production! Dr. Cynthia Bailey has a good over view on skin care for oily skin.

Does @firstaidbeauty have many products for controlling oily skin? #FABskin

When skin is well moisturized it does seem to make less oil, so they have a lot of moisturizers, but I don't think they have a product specifically for oily skin.

@15minbeauty @MidniteManicure i use to be oily but now my skin is more dry, can my skin change suddenly like that? #fabskin

Unfortunately, yes. Skin likes to change as we get older, especially if there are hormonal shifts.

@15minbeauty Yes. I use an under the eye cream for anti-aging and it leaves my skin burning, but I thought it was supposed to. #FABSKIN

If something is so irritating to your skin that you're experiencing burning, then you are creating inflammation. Which is aging. So, you've just undone any good you've done by using the product.

@15minbeauty Is there a certain age limit on when to start using anti-aging regimen? #FABSKIN

Nope! You can't start too young. While you probably wouldn't need a heavy duty retinoid in your 20's, you should definitely be using sunscreen every day and since you're moisturizing anyways, you might as well include anti-aging ingredients like peptides and antioxidants, right?

Is tepid water best for sensitive skin?#FABSKIN

Yes! Avoid water that is too hot if you're sensitive. It is also drying, so we should all be turning the temperature down on our showers.

@15minbeauty @FirstAidBeauty What's your favorite FAB product? #FABSKIN
@FirstAidBeauty If I could buy just one product from your line, what would you recommend? I have combo skin with hyperpigmentation. #FABSkin

The answer to both of these questions is the same, the Dual Repair Serum, which is lightweight but moisturizing (it was all I needed on a recent vacation to Florida. I left the moisturizer at home), includes a lot of anti-aging ingredients including a Retinoid, and a licorice root extract which helps with hyperpigmentation. Oh, and the serum has the highest concentration of all those ingredients.

@15minbeauty does it sting at all? or make eyes water? my eyes always get so "teary" #FABSkin
@FirstAidBeauty Does it have a greasy feeling? #FABSKIN

The Dual Repair line is pretty moisturizing but doesn't feel greasy at all, doesn't sting and it sinks into my skin really quickly. I have found that the moisturizer is too much moisture for me in the morning, so I use the serum alone at that time. I have no problems applying makeup over it.

@15minbeauty do you rub it in or pat on eye area? i've heard diff methods #fabskin

If you rub you should use your ring finger rather than pointer finger, I tend to do both things.

@FirstAidBeauty @15minbeauty What's the best way to heal damage to your skin from the winter weather #FABSKIN

Definitely getting moisture into your skin!

Great ways to do that:
• Turn down the water temp when you are in the shower.
• Moisturize within 3 minutes of getting your skin wet, whether you're in the shower, washing your face or hands... if you got wet, you need to moisturize immediately.
• Make sure you have a humidifier turned on, whether it is a room humidifier (and if it is just a room one, make that room your bedroom since you spend the most time there) or one attached to your heater, it doesn't really matter.

what about a prduct that reverses the signs of aging, is there such a thing? #FABSKIN

Only retinoids have been clinically proven as a topical (in the medical literature) to really reverse wrinkles. Other signs of aging like hyperpigmentation, lackluster skin, etc. can all be improved with exfoliation, moisturizers and ingredients that help fight pigmentation.

@15minbeauty Thanks! Can we use a product with Salicylic acid for oily skin? Can it help aging issues too? #FABSkin

Yes to both!

@15minbeauty @FirstAidBeauty what to use on my cheek area after sunburn? #fabskin

Here's my post on How to treat a sunburn

@15minbeauty So night time would be best? #FABSKIN

For the Dual Repair line you can use the products twice a day, though listen to your skin! My skin was definitely too moisturized with both the serum and moisturizer in the morning, so I went down to just the eye cream and serum in the am, then I add in the moisturizer at night.

@15minbeauty What is the first beauty trick/ tip do you use when you get up in the morning? #FABSKIN

It's hard to say! Probably just how much I multitask everything. I'm constantly trying to combine steps so I can shave off minutes. But, if given the chance I can easily take 2 hours to get ready to go the grocery store.

@FirstAidBeauty loving the ultra repair concentrate, should i switch to the dual repair line? #fabskin

I've found the Ultra Repair Cream to be more moisturizing than the Dual Repair Cream. If you need the extra moisture, I'd stick with that for now, but add in the Dual Repair Eye Cream and Serum. In the summer you might want to swap the moisturizer out.

@15minbeauty ok to use if there is some eczema? #fabskin

Yes! In fact, I'd say it is perfect for it. The primary issue in eczema and atopic derm is really that that skin's barrier function is disrupted, allowing allergens and inflammation to take over. FAB's products are formulated to help support the barrier function, similar to the products I was taught to use in my patients when I was a general pediatrician.

@FirstAidBeauty Does it have SPF? #FABSKIN
@FirstAidBeauty Does the Dual repair line has SPF?? #FABSKIN

It doesn't.

@FirstAidBeauty Is the dual repair eye cream good for dark circles? #FABSKIN
@15minbeauty do you use a concealer over the eye cream or just the eye cream #FABSkin

Yes, it seems to be helping my circles. I definitely need concealer, so I wear it over the eye cream.

@FirstAidBeauty @15minbeauty how long does one container of the dual repair last me? #fabskin

Probably somewhere in the 2-3 month range.

@FirstAidBeauty Does the product also have an exfoliate and SPF? #FABSKIN

The Dual Repair line doesn't.

@15minbeauty Does the face wash lather up and does it make a difference if a face wash does or not? #FABSKIN

It has a light lather, but it actually doesn't matter at all whether you get a good lather in terms of cleaning efficacy. But, people do seem to love their lather!

@15minbeauty would you replace your moisturizer with the serum? #fabskin @FirstAidBeauty

I would! It is definitely moisturizing and the serum is what I'm using in the am now, without the moisturizer.

@15minbeauty Is there a @FirstAidBeauty product for chronic dry lips? #FABSKIN

They have an Ultra Repair Lip Therapy, though I haven't tried it out.

@15minbeauty Does the product help with wrinkles around the lip area too? #FABSKIN

The serum has a retinoid and should help with wrinkles if you apply it there! Wrinkles in that area are particularly difficult because you're moving your mouth so much.


There were questions about pregnancy and nursing safety.

The Dual Repair line is safe during nursing, but the Serum contains a retinoid and isn't safe for pregnancy (but that is fine for nursing!)

Products sent for review
Note that while I currently have a sponsored post series with First Aid Beauty and they have sent me products to review, this overview of the questions is here because I wanted to answer everything from the Twitter party. I felt guilty not answering everyone's questions!

5

At Home Spa Pampering: How I Cram Hours of Pampering into 90 Minutes or Less

Sample Provided For Review, I Bought This

After my recent vacation (Disney World with a 2 year old), I fully admit that I needed a little peace and relaxation. It was fun but... super exhausting! Unfortunately, I didn't have the time (or money) to head to a spa for the full treatment for a day. I did have a few hours at home alone, thanks to a day I didn't have to work and my toddler at "school". So, I took advantage and crammed as much pampering into a 90 minute period as I could! I don't remember exactly what order I did everything in, but here's the kind of multi-tasking I usually do to fill a roughly 90 minute pampering session.

I'm not really one of those girls that likes to lounge around in the tub. I'm busy and have a lot of things to do (and multitask) and they aren't really easily done in the tub. I'm usually doing one thing while another works away, like scrubbing down while a hair mask is soaking, etc.

Things I usually do:

Hair
I have some eczema or atopic derm near my ear, and a small amount of Head and Shoulders Advanced once a week is all I need to keep it at bay in the fall and spring. Something with zinc just keeps my skin happy. I also really love the Green Apple Head and Shoulders, but I just ran out last week, so I'm back to the blue bottle. I'm going to repurchase in the Green Apple after this one runs out, I love the smell of the green apple.

While the H&S is on those little areas, I wash the rest of my hair. Lately I'm really loving the L'Oreal Advanced Hair Care line! I've been using the Total Repair 5 line, and you can see the Shampoo & Conditioner here. The collection is very hydrating and seems to be really improving the condition of my damaged hair with each use. I also have the mask (which I recently repurchased, you can see it on my Instagram), it's hiding under the DermOrganic Hair Masque. So, I wash my hair with the L'Oreal, then I'm masking with the L'Oreal, and then I actually did a second mask with the DermOrganic (I was super pampering!). My hair loved this and was super soft and silky, but not at all weighed down. It still had a lot of volume.

Face
I washed my face with my First Aid Beauty Cleanser, using my Clarisonic.

Body
Obviously, in the shower you need to get yourself clean. When pampering I like to use a really yummy scented body wash, and my favorites are the Aromatic Blends from Kiehl's. They smell ah-mazing and have a nice lather. They don't overdry my skin, but aren't crazy hydrating like my usual Olay, so I don't use them a lot in the winter. I used my Beautisol Exfoliating Mitt with the body wash, so I was super soft and glowy after my shower.

I'm usually afraid to not use my typical Cetaphil cream, when I'm not super hydrated my eczema likes to flare. For about the last week or so I've been using the new Dial 7 Day Moisturizing Lotion, and it seems to be working really well! It's a slightly lighter lotion, and I love that I can just use a pump instead of having to open a tub and smear very thick cream everywhere. (That pump really is so much easier!) It has a very light scent, sinks in to my skin pretty quickly and the lotion does keep me well moisturized for a long time. I'll definitely be using this throughout the summer!

Finally, under all of those products you'll see my Solevation Shower Mat, which I'm totally in love with. I stand on it while shampooing and washing, just twisting and turning. The end result is pretty feet!

Once I'm finally out of the shower, I like to spend some time masking/doing my nails. First I should point out that the Rembrandt strips are there because I actually start those before I get in the shower (this is the Rembrandt 2 Hour Whitening System).

Next I start masking!
Kiehl's Rare Earth Mud Mask: This mask still doesn't have its own page, but it is amazing. I use it right after getting out of the shower so it can pull as much junk out of my pores as possible. It gets the job done but is very gentle, which I love!

First Aid Beauty Instant Oatmeal Mask: After masking I like to do a soothing/hydrating mask. If it makes me smell like a cookie, so much better!

Next it is time for nails. You can read more about my preferences in my 8 Pedicure Essentials post from last week, but I use a lot of the same products for my manicure. I have the Nails Inc Kensington top coat here, which dries things in about 45 seconds (though it seems to take more like 4-5 minutes for really dry enough to do stuff). I also have a hand scrub and cream from Julep, which I've really loved. They sent them to me in a free Maven box, which I've found is a great way to find new products. That hand cream is amazing!

Also, I use the 30 second cuticle remover from Sally Hansen, which I've probably bought about 30 times over the years (no joke). I'm loving the CoverGirl nail polishes, they last for a looooong time. This one reminds me of my Chanel Particuliere, but with much better wear. I swear I buy a new bottle every time I go to the grocery store.

Finally, if I'd had time, I would have probably tried to include these items as well!

The Clairol Natural Instincts Clear Shine treatment: Since going dark my hair is definitely not as shiny. I'm about to get my hair done again so I'll have my hair dresser do something, but otherwise this is already sitting in my cart on Drugstore.com!

Beautisol Self Tanner: This doesn't turn my skin orange and it doesn't smell! I don't really have time for the "full" treatment, but my plan is to get a bottle to mix in to my lotion and just use it every day. According to Beautisol's Founder, Sinead, this should work really well!

SpaSonic: Like a Clarisonic, but not. It has a head that is big enough for your body! They sent me one to test, but I haven't had a chance to take pictures yet. I won't let it in my bathroom until I do, but it's in my office, taunting me.

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Mark Your Calendars! Twitter Party!

You may have noticed I have a bit of a First Aid Beauty theme going on around here, all of it is centered around my current testing of their new Dual Repair line (which, I'm not gonna lie, is going exceedingly well! I'll share more details on the products and my initial thoughts very soon.)

As part of that, I'll be co-hosting a twitter party with First Aid Beauty! To participate, you just need to follow #FABSkin, and at the end of the party there will be prizes for participants!

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First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Concentrate Review

Yesterday I shared my First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream review, which is a lotion I've been smearing all over my body all winter to combat the worst of my winter skin issues. While this product is the "concentrate" of that cream, really they are very, very different. Well, I guess they're the same in that they both off a lot of hydration with soothing components, but many of their moisturizing ingredients are different.

The concentrate depends much more on occlusive style moisturizers than the cream does (read more about different types of moisturizers and how they work), which means that the Concentrate will give more of the super silky "I AM HYDRATED" feeling that many of us are used to. I do like to use occlusives on my hand and body, though I don't typically recommend them on the face. They're especially useful when you are sealing something into the skin. So, if you have just washed your hands or taken a shower, an occlusive can really help to seal in the moisture you may have gained. There are also a lot of emollients in this product, so it has a ton of moisture packed into the little jar.

Now comes the part where I admit that I saved this review for the end of the week because I still can't quite figure out how to describe the feeling of this product. In the jar it is a white and waxy appearing solid. It breaks apart very easily with your fingers, and it then feels like a dry-ish cream with a little wax in it (really, this is the best I could do, so I hope that makes some sense). As you rub it in, your body heat with quickly melt the product and it feels like a slightly waxy lotion, though not as wet, when it is sinking in to your skin. Sometimes (when it is cold out) it will feel a bit grainy (like you got sand in it), but if you keep rubbing those sandy bits will also melt away very quickly. It does leave a moisturizing residue on the skin, which is all of those occlusive moisturizing ingredients. So, I wouldn't put it on my face (definitely can't put makeup on over it, though FAB says it is fine for the face), and it makes doing things like turning on a table lamp a bit... slippery for about 5 minutes.

It smells a little medicinal, I can smell the eucalyptus oil and maybe a little peppermint as well (though that isn't in there), but the smell is very subtle and I can't notice it after about 5 minutes or so.

Ingredients:
Colloidal Oatmeal, Water/Aqua/Eau, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Glycerin, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Urea, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Ceramide 3

• Colloidal Oatmeal: I think it's rather telling that the #1 ingredient is Oats, which shows antioxidant activity, inhibits prostaglandins (anti-inflammatory activity) and works to clean the skin when used in cleansers.
• Safflower Seed Oil: Occlusive moisturizer, contains linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid
• Beeswax: Occlusive
• Shea Butter: Emollient
• Sweet Almond Oil: Emollient
Cocoa) Seed Butter
• Glycerin: Humectant
• Wheat Germ Oil: Emollient
• Urea: Helps with hydration but can penetrate down into the skin and help exfoliate.
• Caprylyl Glycol: Emollient
• Allantoin: Moisturizing, helps to slough dead skin cells and anti-inflammatory all at once!
• Feverfew: Anti-inflammatory that also helps to decrease redness
• White Tea Extract: Contains polyphenols, which are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, though they even suppress cancer. While most of the research into these effects used intake of the polyphenols rather than topical use, "most researchers agree that tea (black, green, or white) has potent anti-inflammatory properties and that it is a potent antioxidant whether consumed orally or applied topically"
• Licorice Root: Helps to decrease melanin production, so can help with hyperpigmentation
• Ceramide 3: Emollient

I do notice a difference in my skin with just 1 use, though it seems best when I use it a few times a day for several days in a row. With all of the occlusives in the mix, this is best used after your hands are wet, so I tend to leave it next to my sink and use it right after washing. I will often get little areas of eczema during the winter (the harsh midwest winter and tons of extra hand washing due to the RSV and Flu seasons at work), but I've been using this on any dry patches that crop up and I haven't used any steroid cream all winter, which is quite a feat!

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First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Review

I've been using the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (and Concentrate, which I'll review tomorrow) for most of the winter, and you may have noticed I've made references to the products, but haven't done a full review until now. These are the products that I've been reaching for first this winter (which has been pretty harsh here in Michigan) as my hands have been dry, irritated and they just... hurt. I've eczema, and sometimes it seems as if no amount of extra care can prevent my hands from becoming dry and irritated.

What makes this cream different is that it contains so many soothing ingredients to help with irritated and unhappy skin, and it doesn't depend upon a heavy occlusives to really hydrate your skin. (If you're not sure what that means you can check out my post on how skin moisturizers work for more info.) That feeling most of us have after we use a moisturizer and it "feels" silky and thick and, with some moisturizers, almost greasy? That is from the occlusives. You won't feel that with Ultra Repair Cream, but your skin instead will feel soft, you'll have less redness and irritation and my skin feels more normal when I've been using this regularly.

Ingredients:
Colloidal Oatmeal, Water, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Squalane, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Dimethicone, Xanthum Gum, Disodium EDTA, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus, Ceramide 3

Here are some of the ingredient highlights:
• Colloidal Oatmeal: I think it's rather telling that the #1 ingredient is Oats, which shows antioxidant activity, inhibits prostaglandins (anti-inflammatory activity) and works to clean the skin when used in cleansers.
• Stearic Acid: A thickening and emulsifying agent, this is a naturally found fatty acid, it can feel soft and sometimes slightly waxy on the skin when applied (it's that "slip" that you can sometimes feel).
• Glycerin: Humectant
• C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate: Emollient (again, look at that moisturizer post. This is good stuff!) It will also make things feel less greasy.
• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: Quite a ways down the list, you'll see the first occlusive moisturizer
• Glyceryl Stearate: A combo of Stearic Acid and Glycerin
• Cetearyl Alcohol: Emulsifier made from wax (not really an alcohol the way we think of it...)
• Caprylyl Glycol: Emollient
• Shea Butter: Emollient
• Squalene: Emollient
• Allantoin: Moisturizing, helps to slough dead skin cells and anti-inflammatory all at once!
• Feverfew: Anti-inflammatory that also helps to decrease redness
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea): Contains polyphenols, which are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, though they even suppress cancer. While most of the research into these effects used intake of the polyphenols rather than topical use, "most researchers agree that tea (black, green, or white) has potent anti-inflammatory properties and that it is a potent antioxidant whether consumed orally or applied topically"
• Licorice Root: Helps to decrease melanin production, so can help with hyperpigmentation
• Ceramide 3: Emollient

Ultra Repair Cream comes in a very big tub, and really, it's a huge supply. A little of this stuff will go a long way. It is a strange lotion/creamy/slightly goopy consistency for me, I haven't fully figured it out. It feels immediately soothing when I put it on, and it sinks into my skin very quickly. Which I love. I have no residue left behind.

I've been using this pretty much only on my body (especially my hands), though you could use it on your face as well. It's definitely too much hydration for my combination skin to use every day on my face, but it did work really well one day when I was feeling dry. I've noticed that it works best when used consistently, which really allows those anti-inflammatory ingredients to work.

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First Aid Beauty Detox Eye Roller Review: A Lot of Under Eye Goodness in a Little Bottle

When it comes to eye creams, I'm all about plumping everything up and making it look less wrinkly and swollen. Really, it is amazing what a little moisture will do to the under eye area! I hate looking tired, and it seems that I'm really prone to it. All the concealer in the world isn't enough to cover up my under eye issues, but a good eye primer can hide a lot of my faults and makes my concealer application better.

The Detox Eye Roller is a small glass bottle (it holds 10 mL, which is about 1/3 ounce) of a clear liquid. Really, it feels like slightly thick water. It comes out of a metal roller top, which you're meant to roll over the under eye area. I've been suspicious of the eye product roller application in the past (like here), though I do like this applicator. I'm still not sure that the ball really does much with redistributing lymph like FAB says, but it does help greatly with proper application (I'm sure without it I would be using about 3-4 weeks worth of product at a go), and with the roller I'm much more gentle on the area than I would be with a finger tip.

The liquid is light and it disappears really quickly into my skin. There's no residue and no greasy feeling left behind, and it doesn't interfere with makeup application. I do like to have a little bit more of a creamy/lotion typically in this area to smooth my concealer application, but it doesn't seem to really matter with this eye liquid (I don't know what to call it. It isn't a cream...)

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ethoxydiglycol, Polysorbate 20, Caffeine, Menthyl Lactate, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Aminomethyl Propanol, Carbomer, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

So, really here's where the best info is! In that ingredient list you'll find:
Moisture (temporarily plumps stuff up, making it look smoother and fine lines less obvious): Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate
Antioxidants: White Tea Extract
Peptides: Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Anti-Inflammatory: Feverfew (also decreases redness), Licorice Root
Brightening: Licorice Root (decreases melanin production)
Tightening: Caffeine




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