Pure Skin Care at CVS

I received a box in the mail a few weeks ago full of products I'd never heard of before. Why? Because it's a new skin care line that will be offered at CVS. I would have been able to tell you more about the line a week ago, but I honestly lost the huge press release they sent me about it. So, instead I'll tell you more about the products themselves and you can decide if you want to run over to the nearest CVS and pick some up.

The biggest "claim" of this line is the inclusion of Back Rice Peptides. While I'm not sure how these are extracted, or even if they work, in general peptides are a nice ingredient to include in your anti-aging routine!

Cream Cleanser
I've already seen positive reviews of this product popping up on-line, and I have to be the dissenting vote I'm afraid. I didn't like this cleanser.

It is a white creamy cleanser, very gentle on skin. However, it left a lot of greasy residue on my face. While it might work great for those with dry skin (particularly during the cold, dry winter), it just wasn't a good option for my combination skin in Southern California. In addition, the real reason that I did not like this cleanser was that it didn't seem to actually cleanse anything! I was left with dirt and makeup still on my face after using this cleanser.


Scrub
This is another product to avoid. This scrub has sharp and unevenly sized grit that is much too harsh for use on your face. Barring that issue, I didn't think that it rinsed off very well and should just be avoided overall.


Face Cream, SPF 15
This is the standout product of the line in my opinion. This cream is a great option for a day moisturizer! It is creamy, feels silky and hydrating, and it quickly absorbs into my skin without any residue. Perfect for everyday!

You can see that this product provides broad spectrum UV coverage as well.

The main moisturizing ingredients are Palm Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocoa Butter, and Avocado Oil.


Night Cream
This cream is a lotion that actually comes in a bottle with two different pumps. Truthfully, I had a hard time using both pumps at once (why was I trying to do this? I really have no idea, but it was messy), so just make things easier on yourself and pump them on their own into your hand and then mix the clear and white lotions together. The final lotion absorbs quickly without residue, but wasn't quite as hydrating as I would have liked.

Active ingredients in this product include:
• Peptides: Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide
• Beta Hydroxy Acid: Salicylic Acid


Eye Cream
This is a nicely hydrating eye cream that was a nice base under makeup. It does have a faint residue once it absorbs, which I felt aided concealer application. While it doesn't offer any anti-aging ingredients (other than what the Rice Peptides may or may not offer), this is a great option if you're just looking for hydration.

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Another Option for Organic: Revolution Organic

These products are just the latest edition to the world of organic beauty products. What makes them a bit different is that in addition to being organic, the founders (Alexandra Zanella and Melissa Shabinsky) decided that they wanted to make the products concentrated (so you use less, this reminds me of the ever increasing concentration of my Tide detergent) and incredible multi-taskers!

All Revolution Organics products are free of chemicals, parabens, synthetics and artificial ingredients and are scented only with USDA-certified perfume blends. The products are free of fillers, including water, so each pure, concentrated organic product delivers more so consumers can use less.

The first three products in the line are being released now!
• Certified Organic All-Over Body Balm ($29.00)
• Certified Organic Lip Balm ($24.00)
• Certified Organic Skin Crème ($32.00)

Exclusive to Beauty.com

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Need a New Approach to Aging? Check Out the New Avon Rejuvenate Products

My favorite anti-aging products typically combine different approaches to aging, whether that is the immediate plumping effects of a moisturizing ingredient like Hyaluronic Acid (aka- Sodium Hyaluronate), preventative measure like an anti-oxidant or even better the only topical ingredient proven to decrease wrinkles, retinoids.

I'm also an obvious junkie for new products (hence, this blog which is a major source of fun and amusement for me), and lately it seems as though the new products that I get most excited about are the new anti-aging products.

So, I was pretty interested to try out the new Avon ANEW products. Say what you will about the "old" Avon, the image of women in little pillbox hats ringing your doorbell to sell a baby pink lipstick. The truth is that Avon has is a big company, with a lot of reseach and development money. And they use a lot of that money to create fantastic skin care products.



A quick glance at the list of ingredients below shows that both of these products are full of anti-oxidants, hydroxy acids and peptides. The Flash Facial even contains retinoids. That leaves very little room for improvement in terms of topical anti-aging power!

The products themselves are very nice to use. The cream and Flash Facial both sink into my skin completely and quickly. My skin is perfectly hydrated, without being overly greasy or too dry (not always possible with my combination skin, so this is quite a find!) While the cream is obviously thicker than the Flash Facial, they both do smell a bit like chemicals. That scent quickly fades once applied.

Honestly, these are both great products. You'd be hard pressed to find better. The only thing missing here is SPF 30 for daytime!

ANEW REJUVENATE Flash Facial
ANEW REJUVENATE Night Revitalizing Cream


ANEW Rejuvenate Revitalizing Cream Ingredients
Water
PEG-8: Humectant; Solvent
Ethylhexyl Palmitate: emollient
Dimethicone: Occlusive
Isocetyl Stearate: emollient
Tromethamine: pH Buffer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer: emulsifier
Dilauryl Thiodipropionate: Anti-Oxidant
Thiodipropionic Acid: Skin Conditioner
Chlorosalicylic Acid: Derivative of Salicylic Acid, a Beta Hydroxy Acid
Eclipta Prostrata Extract: aka False Daisy, a skin conditioner
Gossypium Herbacem (cotton) Extract: Skin Conditioner
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7: Peptide
Tocopherol: Vitamin E, Anti-Oxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate: Hyaluronic Acid, Humectant
Squalane: emollient
Silica: Absorbant, Anti-Caking Agent, Bulking Agent
Di-PPG-3 Myristyl Ether Adipate: Film former, skin conditioner
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer: emulsifier and opacity agent
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethlsiloxyethyl Dimethicone: surfactant
Caprylyl Glycol: humectant
Isoceteth-20: emulsifier, surfactant
PEG-100 Stearate: surfactant
Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer: silicone, conditioner
PEG-40 Stearate: surfactant
Polysorbate 60: emulsifier, surfactant
Glycerin: humectant
PEG/PPG-20/23 Dimethicone: emulsifier and conditioning agent
Butylene Glycol: humectant, conditioning agent and emulsifier
Steareth-20: surfactant
Fragrance
Phenoxyethanol: preservative
Mica
Titanium Dioxide


ANEW Rejuvenate Flash Facial Ingredients:
Water
Glycerin: Humectant
Dimethicone: Occlusive
PEG-8: Humectant; Solvent
Pentylene Glycol: Solvent; Skin Conditioner
HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer: Anticaking agent
Butylene Glycol: Humectant, Skin Conditioner, Viscosity Agent
Silica: Absorbant, Anti-Caking Agent, Bulking Agent
Ethoxydiglycol: Humectant, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent
Phytol: Emollient, Skin Conditioner
Polymethyl Methacrylate: Film former
Gossypium Herceaum (Cotton) Extract: Skin Conditioner
Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Extract: Skin Conditioner
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract: Emollient, Bulking Agent
Ascorbyl Palmitate: Vitamin C, Anti-Oxidant
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein: Skin Conditioner
Sodium Hyaluronate: Hyaluronic Acid, Humectant
Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract: Skin Conditioner
Andrographolide Plankton Extract: Skin Conditioner
Panthenol: Skin conditioning agent, Vitamin B derivative
Xymenynic Acid: emollient, skin conditioner
Retinyl Palmitate: Retinoid
Tocopheryl Acetate: Vitamin E, Anti-Oxidant
Beta-Carotene: Skin Conditioner
Bis-PEG-15 Dimethicone/IPDI Copolymer: Film Former
Dimethicone Crosspolymer: Emulsion Stabilizer
Glycereth-26: humectant
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate: emollient, emulsifier
Steardimonium Hydroxypropyl Panthenyl PEG-7 Dimethicone Phosphate Chloride: Conditioning Agent
Menthyl Lactate: Fragrance Ingredient
Dimethiconol: Anti-foaming agent, emollient
Squalane: emollient
Polysorbate 60: emulsifying agent
Benzophenone-4: sunscreen agent
Phosphoric Acid: pH Buffer
Lecithin: Emulsifying agent, emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate: emollient
Sodium Hydroxide: pH Buffer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer: Emulsifier
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer: Emulsifier
Sodium polyacrylate: Film Former, Emulsifier
Fragrance
Phenoxyethanol: Preservative
Chlorphenesin: Anti-Microbial
Disodium EDTA: Chelating Agent, Viscosity Agent
Sodium Dehydroacetate: Preservative
Mica: Opacifier
Titanium Dioxide: Sunscreen Agent

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Your Best Face? Actually, yes!

Your Best Face is a relatively simple anti-aging collection They have only 4 products, containing incredible ingredients that really do help with aging. I've been using them for the last 3 weeks or so and have seen great results!

The real basis of these products in the ingredients. This is one of only a very small number of skin care products on the market containing spin traps. Huh? Yes, Spin Traps.

What is a spin trap? Actually, it is a unique form of anti-oxidant. Rather than simply neutralizing the harmful free radicals, spin traps actually take away the extra "bad" electron, returning the oxygen to normal and therefore usable. The spin traps are also much stronger than many other anti-oxidants at hunting down and neutralizing the free radicals.

Many of these products also contain sodium hylauronate (aka- hyaluronic acid, holds a lot of water to itself on the surface of the skin therefore is great at hydrating and plumping the skin), Vitamins B & E (anti-oxidants) as well as several peptides to help with collagen creation.


Defend: Oil Control
I've been reaching for Defend every morning, which has a great anti-shine capability that I've yet to find in another product. While it is white and creamy with a fruity smell, it does sink in immediately. I feel like it is hydrating my skin, and it really leaves no residue behind. My skin is perfectly prepared for makeup, no greasiness in sight!

The oil fighting properties of this product are amazing! I've tried anti-shine products in the past from Clarins and OC Eight, which are remarkable for not working well despite their high price. This product work well all day, requiring no powder or blotting touch-ups!

Defend Ingredients:
Reverse osmosis water, ppg-5 ceteth-20, sodium hyaluronate, propylene glycol, nylon 12, spin trap (phenyl butyl nitrone), palmitoyl pentapeptide-3, micronized titanium dioxide, cetearyl olivate and sorbitan olivate, paraben du, vitamin e


Control: Extra Collagen Building
Control contains many of the same ingredients as Defend, but rather than having oil fighting abilities this product has extra peptides to help build collagen and firm the skin. This lotion is a light orange color, feels rich and creamy and smells almost like grapes to me. It does feel great on my skin, and it quickly dries to a semi-matte finish. Perfect for applying makeup over!

Control Ingredients:
reverse osmosis water, argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-3), cyclomethicone, ppg-5 ceteth-20, matrixyl 3000 (palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3), c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, dimethyl isosorbide, ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, spin trap (phenyl butyl nitrone), jojoba, nylon 12, idebenone, triethanolamine, alpha lipoic acid, polysorbate 20, sodium hyaluronate, vitamin e, paraben du


Correct: Eye Cream
The eye cream contains 25% peptides (wow, that is a huge amount!), spin traps and other anti-oxidants such as Vitamins A and E galore! I like that it also contains caffeine, which helps to immediately firm the skin. This is a thicker white lotion with the same grape/fruity smell as the other products. It takes a minute or two longer to sink into my skin. But, the extra time is well worth it, since the firming from the caffeine really does help to firm my bags and tighten the area. This is a great eye cream!

Correct Ingredients:
reverse osmosis water, licorice root extract, snap-8 (acetyl glutamyl hexapeptide-3), pepha-timp (polypeptide), cucumber extract, simugel (C16H34), syn-ake (tripeptide), haloxyl (hydroxysuccinimide, chrysin, palmitoyl oligopeptide (and) palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3), nutmeg butter, matrixyl 3000 (palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3), dimethyl isosorbide, alpha arbutin, cyclomethicone (and) dimethicone copolyol, ethyhexyl palmitate, spin trap (phenyl butyl nitrone), glycerine, l-proline, provitamin B5, raspberry seed extract, alpha lipoic acid, sepilift DPHP (palmitoyl-1, palmitoyloxy-4 proline), triglyceride, paraben du, sodium hyaluronate, caffeine, cetearyl isononanoate, ceteareth-20, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, cetyl palmitate, ceteareth-12, vitamin e, BHT, olive leaf extract, vitamin a, violet leaf extract, oakmoss absolute


Restore: Skin Lightening
Restore combines the anti-aging effects of the other products with a skin lightening ingredient, alpha arbutin. This ingredient is made from Bearberry plant, and it acts on Tyrosinase, an enzyme important in the synthesis of melanin. As well, it acts on some of the intermediate products of melanin creation to decrease overall melanin production. So, while it does create immediate results (since it isn't directly breaking down the melanin), overtime you will see skin lightening effects.

This lotion has a bit more of a liquid consistency than the other products, is milky white and has that grape-fruity scent that I like. It sinks in quickly, dries quickly to a semi-matte finish (perfect for applying makeup over it) and provides just the right amount of moisture for my combination skin!

Restore Ingredients:
reverse osmosis water, alpha arbutin, c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, sodium hyaluronate, ppg-5 ceteth-20, ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, spin trap (phenyl butyl nitrone), provitamin B5, paraben du, triethanolamine, polysorbate 20, vitamin e


Your Best Face Skincare

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Travel and Skin Care Made Easy: Lisa Hoffman's Seven Day Kit

Travel wears me out. Actually, packing wears me out. I never know how much stuff to bring. I try to pare down my routine, but then I get to my destination and want all of my normal treament products. It really drives me crazy to not be able to use my eye cream or have an anti-aging product. So, then I end up bringing all of my products. In their full size. Which means I have to check my bag and I'm on the verge of paying overweight fees!

No one understands this better than Lisa Hoffman. Yes, she's married to Dustin. They decided when they married that they'd spend more time together, meaning Lisa travelled to locations with Dustin. A lot of travel thrown in with Hollywood beauty expectations (she really had to bring all of her skin care) means she had my problems but multiplied a hundred fold. A few years ago she had this amazing idea- create a skin care line with all of your products in individual packets, easy to travel with!


Last week I went out of town, we stayed at my parent's home and 2 different hotels during this trip. That meant a lot of moving around, so I wanted to pare down even more than usual. So, I brought a Lisa Hoffman Seven Day Kit with me.

This really cool packet has 10 little ampules, 5 for day and 5 for night. Each ampule is resealable and contains enough product for a week. Pretty much every product that you need is in this packet including cleanser, anti-aging treatment, eye cream, lip products and sunscreen. After using the products for a week I can definitely say I love them. The cleansers work well enough to remove my eye makeup even, rinse off easily and don't leave my skin overly dry or tight. The moisturizers sink in completely easily and create a great base for makeup.

The products were all formulated by the same genius behind M Lab, which is another line that I love. Glancing at the ingredient list for these products you'll see anti-oxidants such as BVOSC (the most stable form of Vitamin C), peptides like Matrixyl 3000 and Dermaxyl and even a retinoid, Retinyl Palmitate.

This is a great option for travel. The ampules are meant to last a day, though there really is enough in there for a few days. You can buy one kit or seven at a time, which come together in a little linen bag.


Lisa Hoffman's Seven Day Kit

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Belli Motherhood Body Firming Serum

I have to admit that I have serious doubts about any topical product that claims to firm any area of your body. Topical products really don't absorb enough into your skin nor can they change the architecture of your muscles, fat and other tissues that are largely responsible for how firm your abdomen is, for example. So, I'm not going to address those claims at all here. If you really want to see effects of firming an area I suggest a gym membership or maybe an appointment with a surgeon.

So, we're going to talk about what I think a topical product really can do, that is improve your skin's tone/texture as well as plump the outer layers of skin (which can feel like firming, by the way). This serum/light moisturizer is packed full of ingredients that are definitely proven to do just those things! In this serum are Sodium Hyaluronate (aka- Hyaluronic Acid, which is a huge molecule that sits on the skin's surface and really attracts water to it, so it can really plump up the skin's surface), a Peptide (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-3), Anti-oxidants (Vitamin E) and even a Retinoid (Retinyl Palmitate)!


This is a great light moisturizer. It is a slightly milky liquid that feels very silky on my skin. It sinks in right away, leaving no residue but acts as a great light weight moisturizer! Absolutely perfect for hot summer days! It does have a faint chemical smell, but I really didn't notice it much and it faded within just a few minutes.

Overall, this is a great lightweight moisturizer that has great ingredients for your skin. Just don't expect it to reduce your hips by a few inches and you'll love it too!

Ingredients:
Deionized Water, Glycerine, Sodium PCA, Polyacrylamide (and) C13-14 Isoparaffin (and) Laureth-7, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camelia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Hydroyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Lentinula Edodes (Shiitake Mushroom) Extract, PEG-16 Macadamia Glycerides, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seedcake, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-3, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon Peel Oil), Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (and) Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate

Belli Motherhood Body Firming Serum

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Belli Motherhood Stretchmark Minimizing Cream

We all hate the dreaded stretch mark. While it might seem easy to avoid them usually (don't gain lots of weight, don't suddenly become a weight lifter, etc), they can become a huge preoccupation during pregnancy. Hence, there are tons of myths about them (rub yourself with Cocoa Butter three times a day, break open millions of Vitamin E tablets, etc), not to mention products on the market to prevent or treat them.

But what exactly is a stretch mark? Unfortunately, they're not very well understood. What seems apparent is that they are definitely associated with stretch and inflammation. They do occur more often in cases of rapid gain of tissue, whether that is weight gain, weight lifting or pregnancy. The dermis stretches and it is thought that there are changes to the collagen and fibrin networks that show breakage (go read about the dermis again), there is inflammation in the area creating further problems. Eventually the area stretches in size, becomes darker in color and the epidermis thins out. As the stretch marks age they will fade to a lighter color, are usually depressed into the skin with a smoother feel than the surrounding skin.

What can you do about stretch marks?

Only a few things have really been proven in well designed studies to help treat them, and many of them are things that really should be done with a dermatologist such as laser treatments.

Retinoids have been shown to help remodel the collagen and improve the appearance of stretch marks. While they make some nervous as they are Vitamin A derivatives (similar to Accutane, a huge no-no during pregnancy), topical retinoids are different enough that all current evidence shows they are perfectly safe to use during pregnancy and while breast feeding.

So, I think that if you're going to use a cream to work on your stretch marks, it should contain a retinoid (like the Retinyl Palmitate in this cream), and other anti-aging/skin improvement ingredients would be a great bonus! While ingredients such as peptides (Rutin and Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3 are included here) and anti-oxidants (such as Vitamin E) have not been shown to directly help stretch marks, they should also help not only the stretch mark but the surrounding skin as well based on what is known of their mechanism of action.

So, this cream has lots of great ingredients that not only are known to help stretch marks (that retinoid) but others that should help your skin fight aging and help improve the texture as well (the peptides and anti-oxidants). And all that is before I even mention the typical emollients (Isopropyl Palmitate) and other moisturizers.

How is the cream? I really like it! It is rich and creamy, feeling just incredible on my skin as it rubs in. It sinks in basically immediately, leaving me soft and supple. It has an incredibly faint scent, which maybe is a bit citrus? Really it is so faint that you should consider it unscented, which I love (I hear from friends that they are super sensitive to smell while pregnant, not something that I'll be looking forward to when I decide to have kids of my own). Really, I think this is a great overall anti-aging/skin improvement cream that you should consider using even if you are not pregnant or worried about stretch marks!


Ingredients:
Deionized Water, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Ceteareth-20, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerine, Sodium PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose (and) Rutin (and) Palmitoyl Oligopeptide (and) Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3 (and) Phaseolus Lunatus (Green Bean) Extract, Hydrolyzed Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seedcake, Cyclomethicone, Centella Asiatica Extract (and) Darutoside, Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (and) Glycereth-2 Cocoate

Belli Motherhood Stretchmark Minimizing Cream

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Belli Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator

I do not always agree with everyone on-line who wants to avoid everything in any product sold today (just because it's "natural" does not mean that it is benign). I'm all for avoiding things that worry/freak you out, but just keep in mind that you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. But, there are some ingredients that don't have enough info out there, are concerning in some studies but still used frequently or are quite frankly things that you really should not be using when you're pregnant or nursing.

Having said all of that, it can be really hard to find products that don't contain some of these ingredients, particularly parabens. That's why I think that the new skin care line from Belli is great. This line was started by a physician (family practice) who wanted products for his wife to use during her pregnancy.

Belli has three different lines, targeted toward pregnant mother, nursing mothers and babies. Each line is specifically targeted to the customer. They avoid ingredients that show up as potential teratogens (aka- things that can mess up your baby) in the medical literature, that can cross over into breast milk or are extra gentle for baby's skin. The evidence for/against each ingredient is from the peer reviewed research published around the world, which makes the doctor in me very happy.

What is especially cool about Belli is that not only do they have these great lines of products that avoid things, but the products are also very nice.

The first product that I tried out was their exfoliator, which is part of the pregnancy line. I love a nice body scrub (my favorite are sugar and salt scrubs), particularly when it is non-greasy and has enough grit. The Belli's Smoothing Body exfoliator is just that! It does have a very faint chemical smell to me, but it is mostly unscented. It is not greasy at all and has a lot of small, evenly shaped grit to help exfoliate you. It doesn't create lather, but I did think that it did a great job of cleaning! It rinses off very easily and thoroughly. Even if you aren't pregnant this is a great scrub to try out!


Ingredients:
Deionized Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Polyethylene, Disodium Cocamphodiacetate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Sodium PCA, Glycerine, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Mentha Arvensis (Peppermint) Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (and) Glycereth-2 Cocoate

Belli Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator

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H2O Plus and Their Facial Oasis: For Day and Night!

Somehow the summer heat really changes what we all need and want in skin care. During the winter I crave thick creams and lotions. That exact same product that I was so obsessed with during the winter can suddenly become oppressive and just incredibly unappealing when the thermometer hit 90 (or higher)! So, these gel moisturizers have reached an all new importance this time of year. Because, despite the heat making you sweat like crazy, chances are that your skin is still dry in patches and needs moisture.

Enter the Oasis, two different gel based moisturizers from H2O Plus. Both are hydrating, feel fantastic going on (try keeping them in the fridge, AMAZING at the end of a long hot day!) and both sink in very quickly. They weren't overly hydrating for my combination skin, I was left with dewy skin and it was easy to apply makeup. The Night Oasis is just a bit more hydrating and does take an extra minute or two to sink in than the Face Oasis.




Perhaps what is even more important to know about these moisturizers is what is inside of them! A quick glance at the ingredients list below shows us that both contain Tocopheryl Acetate (aka-Vitamin E), which acts as an anti-oxidant. You'll also see Retinyl Palmitate, which I was surprised to see because it isn't really mentioned much by H2O Plus. They mention it as Vitamin A, but really you should think of it more as a Retinoid, a Vitamin A derivative that is the only topical ever proven to improve wrinkles. Not to mention those long lists of derivatives/extracts, most of those are different Algae and their extracts are usually included for their anti-oxidant properties as well.

These are the perfect mid-summer moisturizers, and you don't need to give up on any anti-aging benefits! Don't forget to slather on the sunscreen, the retinoid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

Face Oasis Ingredients:
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glycereth-7, Glycosaminoglycans, Dimethicone, Phospholipids, Sea Salt, Extracts of: Ulva Lcatuca, Crithmum Maritimum, Undaria Pinnatifida, Algae; Panthenol, Retinyl Palmitate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zinc PCA, Benzophenone-4, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Trisodium EDTA, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylchlorisothiazolinone, Fragrance, Linalool, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea, Blue 1.

Night Oasis Ingredients:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Extracts of: Crithmum Maritimum, lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Coriandrum Sativum (Coriander), Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit, Hydrolyzed Ulva Lactuca, Laminaria Cloustoni, Algae, Ulva Lactuca; Sea Salt, Fragrance, Linalool, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phospholipids, Isobtylparaben, Proplyparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Blue 1

Face Oasis
Night Oasis

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H20 Plus Marine Cleansing Gel

I say it rather often, but it bears repeating: everyone needs a gentle cleanser to use morning and night. The only exception to this are those that have horrid acne and might need an acne wash. But, that's it. The rest of us need a gentle cleanser.

I've featured a lot of good options here on 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic, and this is another one. This is a great cleanser. It is a gel, but it seems a bit "looser" in consistency than most gels. It creates a nice lather, and while it does have softening beads in the gel, I could not feel them at all (to me this is a good thing actually, because there really aren't enough of them in there to really exfoliate your skin). It's gentle (no irritation, no drying out my skin and no after-wash tightness) but it also gets the job done. It took off all of my makeup and rinsed off of my skin easily! It can't quite get my eye makeup off as well, but let's face it, it isn't meant to do that.

So, if you're looking for a gentle facial cleanser or you're going to H2O Plus anyways to pick up that body butter that I fell in love with, check out this cleanser too!

H2O+ Marine Cleansing Gel

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Kiehl's New Brightening Products

Kiehl's has just released two more products in their very popular Brightening Collection!

Brightening Botanical Hydrating Mask
• With Vitamin C, Calcium Pantetheine Sulfonate, and White Flower Extracts
• Alcohol-free formulation with the highest concentration of Calcium Pantetheine Sulfonate
• A hydrating full-facial treatment that provides a sensorial experience, leaving complexion more translucent, fresh and luminous

Brightening Botanical Spot Treatment
• With Ellagic Acid, Calcium Pantetheine Sulfonate, and White Flower Extracts
• Concentrated treatment with Ellagic Acid boosts the intensity of the Kiehl’s Bright™ regimen
• May be used on targeted spots or all over the face, as often as needed


It appears to me that these are likely the most lightening of the products in this line, so I do want to offer a few words of caution. While a cosmetic product can only "brighten" your complexion (only a drug can claim to "lighten" the skin), these products can still be fairly powerful. The brightening will take place where you apply the product, and depending on the area pigmentation may change at different rates. Generally hyperpigmented areas can take longer, so be especially careful with those areas! You could end up with a lighter surrounding area, making more of a contrast, which means your hyperpigmentation could be more obvious for a time.

But, if you want to have an overall brighter complexion, these might be the products for you!

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Jurlique's New Biodynamic Beauty

Jurlique is a company that creates green skin care products, all from their organic farm in South Australia. While they utilize primarily herbs and flower combinations in their products, they do not use Parabens, Mineral Oils, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Synthetic Emulsifiers, Artificial Colors or Fragrances.

Recently they released their new Biodynamic Antiaging Line, which features anti-aging herbs such as Arnica, Euphrasia, Daisy and Spilanthes.


To celebrate the release of the collection Jurlique is holding a contest!
How to Enter: Simply share your own story of renewal. You can even supplement your text entry with photos, or even videos, which you can upload & share via our YouTube group. Examples of stories include how you have:

Made efforts to renew nature and the Earth
Renewed your neighborhood or community
Brought about renewal for yourself on a personal level
Winners will be selected based on the quality of submissions.

Prizes Include:
A trip for two to an authentic harvesting experience in South Australia (January ’09)
$1000 worth of product, including our Biodynamic Beauty line
$50 online Gift Certificates

Visit the Jurlique Farm

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Malibu Secret: California's Secret to a Youthful Body?

While I love trying out new anti-aging products for my face, there is a dearth of similar products for the body. I have to admit that I frequently use products I've already tested on my chest and hands, but most of us don't have a never ending flow of new skin care products being sent to us all the time! As well, the skin on your face obviously has different needs than the skin on your face!

Finally someone has address these issues. Malibu Secret makes one product and let me tell you that they do it well! Their anti-aging body lotion is fab. It has a great floral scent (I catch hints of gardenia and jasmine), sinks right into my skin and provides a lot of hydration. It's not hard to see why it has celeb devotees like Heather Locklear and Bai Ling, not to mention Kathy Hilton (yup, Paris's mom!).

A quick glance at the ingredients shows that there is a lot of anti-aging power packed into this cream, there are peptides, anti-oxidants and even a retinoid!



Ingredients (refer to the moisturizer post):
Water (Aqua)
Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides: emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea butter): humectant
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower seed oil): emollient
Cyclomethicone: a silicone, lends a silky feel
Glycerin: humectant
Dimethicone : a silicone, lends a silky feel
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa butter): emollient
Myristyl Myristate: emollient
Cetyl Alcohol: emollient and stabilizer
Glyceryl Stearate & PEG-100 Stearate: emulsifier
Cetearyl Alcohol & Ceteareth-20: emulsifier
Sodium PCA: emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Nut butter
Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Extract & Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract & Hordeum Distichon (Barley) Extract
Sucrose Polysoyate
Sodium Hyaluronate: hyaluronic acid
Chlorella Vulgaris (Brown Algae) Extract
Cetyl Esters
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract & Ferula Assa Foetide Root Extract & Pyrus Communis (Pear) fruit Extract & Cameliia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract: anti-oxidant
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract & Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract & Glucosamin HCL
Dextran
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2: peptide
Tetrahexadecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C): anti-oxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E): anti-oxidant
Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A): anti-oxidant and retinoid
Aloe Barbendensis (Aloe Vera) leaf extract
Cetearyl methicone & Linoleic Acid & Glycine soja Sterol & Phopholipids
Xanthan Gum
Oleth-20
PEG-40 Stearate
Sodium Hydroxide
Potassium Sorbate
Phenoxyethanol
Chlorphenesin
Sorbic Acid
Benzoic Acid
Fragrance


Malibu Secret

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Skyn Iceland's Arctic Brightening Serum

While I won't be trying this product out for myself (see that mushroom extract? I'm allergic...) I do think that this new serum from Skyn Iceland is worth looking at if you're in the market for more skin care (which, let's face it, is somewhat of an obsession for me!)

While many of the botanical ingredients included in this serum haven't been studied enough for me to really be raving about them, this serum does include many ingredients that are better studied (in bold below) including Retinol and Tocopherol (Vitamin E). Skyn Iceland also says there's a peptide in there, though I can't spot it just reading through the ingredients.

Ingredients:
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Angelica Archangelica Root Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi Mushroom) Stem Extract, Rhodiola Rosea (Arctic Root) Extract, Rhaponticum Carthamoides (Maral Root) Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus (Siberian Ginseng) Root Extract, Retinol, Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycosphingolipids, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Arachidyl Glucoside, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Alcohol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Perfluorodecalin, Propylene Glycol, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Chloride, Potasium Chloride, Gold, Silver, Copper Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate

Skyn Iceland is available at Sephora stores, QVC, Saks.com, The Studio at Fred Segal, beauty.com, C.O. Bigelow in New York City, Skinstore.com, Henri Bendel, Selfridges in the UK, Holt Renfrew in Canada and skynICELAND.com.

Skyn Iceland's Arctic Brightening Serum

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Neutrogena's Skin ID: A Great Way to Help Your Acne

Acne can be frustrating, particularly when all the treatments you try don't seem to work. Some products don't work for you, some might work but can be so drying that you feel as though your skin is peeling off..... I could go on and on.

A new revolution in Acne care is coming! Neutrogena has developed Skin ID, a very personalized way to treat acne. You simply go to the website and answer a variety of questions including where your face is rough, what type of acne you suffer from and even how much sleep you get each night. At the end you get a personalized regimen just for you!

Why try yet another acne product? Because this one works. It's that simple.

They truly did the "gold standard" medical testing to prove it, which is a "randomized, double-blind trial." That means they randomly assigned patients to either the thing they are interested in (the Skin ID collection), or a placebo (in this case there are 2 groups they compared to, ProActiv and a Placebo that had no active ingredients). The patients were given the products to use in unmarked containers and then were evaluated at regular intervals by dermatologists. Neither the patients or the researchers/dermatologists knew what each patient was on (that's the double blind part). Patients were scored based on things like "Reduction in Total Acne" and "Severity of Emerging Pimples." You can see the results graphs, though I'm a bit curious about all of their other results.

It does seem that Skin ID work!

An intro Skin ID kit (with 3 products that fit your profile) is only $39.95, quite a bit cheaper than a trip to the dermatologist. Consider trying it out!

SkinID.com

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Aging Tips from Dr. Patricia Wexler!

I can not even begin to tell you how exciting it is to have tips straight from Dr. Patricia Wexler appear in 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic.

Dr. Wexler has appeared in pretty much every beauty magazine available in the US, hardly a month goes by without a quote from her in my beauty bible, Allure. She’s even developed her own skin care line (available nationwide at Bath and Body Works and on QVC) with revolutionary ingredients like MMPi’s (they stop skin from being broken down basically). She's a huge proponent of sun screen, and I really think of her all covered up on the beach (as in this NY Times article) when I pick out my sunscreen for vacations (this prompts me to buy SPF 70 instead of SPF 30, not to mention my tunic cover-up).

In our 20’s, sun exposure may have already caused freckling, pigmentation and fine lines most obviously around the eyes.
• Tip: A good skincare regimen including daily exfoliation and moisturizing with an SPF of 30 will ensure youthful skin and thwart wrinkles from developing.
Try: Patricia Wexler, M.D. Dermatology Universal Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF30
• Tip: Use at least one anti-aging product to prevent further damage to collagen and elastic tissue.
Try: Patricia Wexler, M.D. Dermatology Universal Anti-Aging Cleanser


In our 30’s, etched lines become more exaggerated especially around the eyes, and forehead. Stress and hormone manipulation may require adult acne relief. Men are particularly prone to follculitius of the beard, which can be treated with topical salicylic acid, exfoliation, and topical antibiotics.
• Tip: Avoid smoking, wear large sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection to protect the delicate eye area.
Try: Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Intensive 3-in-1 Eye Cream
• Tip: Use antibacterial but not drying solutions. It is vital to incorporate your acne regimen into your anti-aging routine.
Try: Patricia Wexler M.D. Acnescription Exfoliating Acne Cleanser and Overnight Acne Repair Lotion


In our 40’s, lines previously only seen with movement become visible at rest.
• Tip: Use products that contain peptides for immediate relaxation of lines while promoting long term collagen and elastic stimulation. In addition, line fillers containing dermaxyl and polysilicone will give immediate improvement in the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
Try: Patrica Wexler M.D. Dermatology Fastscription No-Injection Line Filler for Lips and Eyes
• Tip: Pigmentation and dull sun damaged skin can be treated with glycolic peels, micro dermabrasion, and skin brightening moisturizers with peptides like Haloxyl and botanical brighteners.
Try: Patricia Wexler M.D Dermatology Resurfacing Microbrasion System and Skin Brightening Daily Moisturizer SPF30



Dr. Wexler will be appearing on the TLC program 10 Years Younger, where she'll be sharing her anti-aging recommendations with everyone! Check out the program guide and tv schedule for info on when to tune in!

images: QVC.com

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Philosophy's Hope in a Jar now with SPF 20!

Philosophy's Hope in a Jar is a huge seller year after year, and there's a reason that it's one of Oprah's favorites. Check out the list of active ingredients: peptides, AHAs and antioxidants are all included! This best seller is now even better, Sephora is offering an exclusive SPF 20 version! Check out the sunscreen analysis- broad UV range coverage is now included!


Active Ingredients:
• lactic acid (lauryl lactate) – alpha hydroxy acid that hydrates and exfoliates for smooth, healthy skin
• beta glucan – immune system response stimulator and antioxidant that conditions and soothes the skin and gives the skin a healthy glow
• retinyl palmitate (retinoid) – skin conditioner that improves skin elasticity and minimizes the appearance of lines and wrinkles

Sunscreen Ingredients:
• avobenzone (parsol 1789) – sunscreen that absorbs and protects against uva rays
• ethylhexyl salicylate (Octisalate) – sunscreen that absorbs and protects against uvb rays
• oxybenzone – sunscreen that absorbs and protects against uvb rays
• octocrylene – sunscreen that absorbs and protects against uvb rays
• homosalate – sunscreen that absorbs and protects against uvb rays



Philosophy's Hope in a Jar SPF 20 at Sephora

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