Jun 29, 2009

Open Forum: Do You Prefer Chemical or Mineral Sunscreens?

As we all know sunscreen is one of the best things we can use to help protect our skin from aging. However, there are chemical sunscreens and mineral (physical) sunblocks. Chemical sunscreens must be applied a half hour or so before sun exposure while mineral sunblocks can pretty much be applied immediately before sun exposure. So, which do you use and why?

Jun 26, 2009

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex is a slightly reformulated version of Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex which it replaces. Advanced Night Repair was introduced in 1982 in New York and continues to be a best selling product for Estee Lauder with a bottle of Advanced Night Repair selling every 3 minutes. There is a reason why, after all these years, this product still sells so well and is so highly regarded by those who use it.

I had no way of knowing how much more I would like the new version. While the scent, texture and base formula are basically the same, there are two additions, a peptide and a plant extract, that are thought to help prevent and/or repair DNA damage and slow aging. Lofty claims for a product, however, Estee Lauder seems to be at the forefront of cosmetic formulations. They were the company that introduced the very idea of a "repair" product, one of the first to have a serum, and one of the first to address treating the skin at night when skin is more receptive to repair. This is an iconic product and one that most people will recognize from the bottle immediately.


This serum is less oily than the previous forumla, absorbs even better and also seems to spread easier. I love this product and although a 1 ounce bottle costs $47.50, a price increase of one dollar over the previous version, it is well worth it to me. Estee Lauder has a tag line for Advanced Night Repair that says this is the one product beautiful skin cannot go without and for my skin, I agree. I love this product and find it works extremely well under my Mastey de Pairs Moiste Facial Moisturizer. The two are my power duo. Although not what most people would consider inexpensive, considering how long a bottle lasts and the fact that even mass market drug store brands are becoming so expensive, this seems like a relatively good deal.


While the brown glass dropper bottle remains, it has been updated slightly to distinguish it from the previous version.


Available from finer department stores and the Estee Lauder website.


INGREDIENTS: WATER\AQUA\EAU, BIFIDA FERMENT LYSATE, METHYL GLUCETH-20, PEG-75, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, BIS-PEG-18 METHYL ETHER DIMETHYL SILANE, ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA EXTRACT, TRIPEPTIDE-32, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, LACTOBACILLUS FERMENT, COLA ACUMINATA (KOLA) EXTRACT, RETINYL PALMITATE, PANTETHINE, CAFFEINE, GLYCERETH-26, SODIUM RNA, SQUALANE, OLETH-3 PHOSPHATE, OLETH-3, OLETH-5, BISABOLOL, CHOLETH-24, CETETH-24, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, ANTHEMIS NOBILIS (CHAMOMILE), SODIUM HYALURONATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, LECITHIN, XANTHAN GUM, TEA-CARBOMER, TRISODIUM EDTA, BHT, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN, BENZYL ALCOHOL, GREEN 5 (CI 61570), YELLOW 5 (CI 19140), RED 4 (CI 14700).

Jun 22, 2009

Grassroots Research Labs Blue Algae Enriched Firming Cream

Grassroots is a product line sold exclusively at Kohl's department stores and is manufactured by Estee Lauder under their Beauty Bank division. Think Origins or Aveda as far as marketing goes for this product line.

Grassroots has recently launched several new products under the Grassroots Research Labs banner. These new products are more expensive than the orginal Grassroots products.

The Grassroots Research Labs Blue Algae Enriched Firming Cream is a wonderful product. The scent is slightly herbal but extremely light and barely noticeable. The texture is sort of a gel/lotion that dries to a velvety, powdery, soft finish. It isn't greasy like a lot of other Estee Lauder creams. I really think I can feel it "firming" my skin. It also seems very similar to Creme de La Mer's recent gel moisturizer, which I really like, but as you know La Mer costs substantially more.

According to the Grassroots website... "This refreshingly, lightweight gel-cream delivers nutrients and moisture to parched skin on contact to hydrate, tighten and firm skin for a more youthful appearance.

• immediately: 66% increase in skin's moisture level.
• after 4 weeks: 45% of subjects saw firmer skin.
•skin is firmer, more lifted and natural collagen production is increased (an effect which helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles)
."

The only thing that would this cream perfect in my book is the addition of chemical sunscreens and if they packaged it in a tube instead of a jar. A matching serum would also be nice. Another issue I have with it is the fact that it balls up if I touch my face after application. I've had the same issue with other high silicone content creams. Some people may not have this problem, however, and it may be caused in part to me layering other products with it.

This product is light enough that I use it over my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum and under my Mastey de Paris Moiste Facial Moisturizer.

A 1.7 ounce jar retails for $32.50 at Kohl's department stores or online from Kohl's.

Ingredients: WATER\AQUA\EAU**, STEARYL DIMETHICONE , DIMETHICONE , BUTYLENE GLYCOL , ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE , GLYCERIN , AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER , CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) PEEL*, OCIMUM BASILICUM (BASIL) OIL*, CARUM PETROSELINUM (PARSLEY) SEED OIL*, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL*, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) OIL*, FERULA GALBANIFLUA (GALBANUM) RESIN OIL*, FUCUS VESICULOSUS EXTRACT, VIOLA ODORATA (VIOLET) EXTRACT, ABIES BALSAMEA (BALSAM CANADA) RESIN, LIMONENE , SPIRULINA MAXIMA EXTRACT , ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM EXTRACT , ALTEROMONAS FERMENT EXTRACT , CHLORELLA VULGARIS EXTRACT , ACRYLAMIDE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE COPOLYMER , ALGAE EXTRACT , TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT) PROTEIN , ASPARAGOPSIS ARMATA EXTRACT , SUCROSE , TREHALOSE , HYDROLYZED YEAST PROTEIN , GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) PROTEIN , SORBITOL , TOCOPHERYL ACETATE , ISOHEXADECANE , OLETH-10 , PALMITOYL OLIGOPEPTIDE , CAFFEINE , TROMETHAMINE , CARBOMER , GLYCERYL POLYMETHACRYLATE , SODIUM HYALURONATE , POLYSORBATE 80 , HYDROGENATED LECITHIN , PENTYLENE GLYCOL , PEG-8 , DISODIUM EDTA , POTASSIUM SORBATE , PHENOXYETHANOL.
* ESSENTIAL OIL
**HAWAIIAN DEEP SEA WATER

Jun 15, 2009

Orlane Paris Pure Youth Oxygentatin Restructuring Care

Orlane Paris is not a brand I am overly familiar with. However, seeing how it is a French made product and the fact that I, like so many, love French skin care decided to try several of their products.

Orlane Paris Pure Youth Oxygenating Restructuring Care is somewhere between a cream and a serum. It starts out rather thick but emulsifies quickly during application. The scent is very sublte, very light and clean. Fresh and not at all overpowering.

The packaging states this product is said to "help the skin maintain its respiratory rythm and fortifies cells. The result: your skin remains youthful and gets a "second wind."' Application is morning and evening.

This cream feels quite nice on the skin and seems to absorb fairly well leaving the skin with a rather dewey look. This product seems to contain far more preservatives than it does cosmetic actives. The fragrance is also listed quite high on the list of ingredients. There are numerous paraben preservatives used in this product. And while I use several products that use paraben preservatives but they do not use so many or in such a high concentration.

$165.00 buys a 1.7 ounce jar. Available at the higher-end departments stores.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Disopropyl Adipate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Myristyl Lactate, Cyclomethicone, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Padina Pavonica Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolized Soy Flour, Triethanolamine, Parfum, (Frargrance), Carbomer, Tetrasodim EDTA, Methylparaben, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Polyacrylamide, Sorbitol, Propylparaben, Urea, O-Cymen-5-OL, c13-14 Isoparaffin, Ethylparaben, Laureth-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Faex (Yeast Extract), Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Cytochrome C, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexylcinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool.

Jun 8, 2009

Pure Fushion Super-Charged Age Defense Radiance Renewal Serum

Fusion Beauty's Super-Charged Age Defense Radiance Renewal Serum is a more ntaural product and is formulated without a lot of the chemicals used in mainstream skin care products and cosmetics.

According to Sephora's website: "Fusion Beauty PureFusion™ Super-Charged Age Defense Radiance Renewal Serum helps to nourish, protect, and hydrate skin. It is a natural and organic way to boost protein production and replenish dull, dry complexions, renewing a healthy radiance. It is formulated without: Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petro-Chemicals, Phthalates, GMOs and Triclosan."

This product is a slightly taupe color and has a very thin consistency. The scent is very much herbal, bit not offensive. This serum applies and spreads easily although it does require some time to absorb. As with a lot of natural products, this serum tends to ball up when applied in tandem with the matching moisturizer.

The elegantly packaged pump bottle , 0.85 oz., sells at Sephora for $69.00.

Ingredients: Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Water, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Corthellus Shiitake (Mushroom) Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Yogurt Extract, Yeast Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Juice, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lecithin, Superoxide Dismutase, Soybean Peroxidase, Citric Acid.

Jun 6, 2009

Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Creme

Re-Nutriv is Estee Lauder's high-end, prestige, skin care line. It is similar in cost to the Estee Lauder owned Creme de La Mer.

Ultimate Youth Creme is a light cream that absorbs quickly and leaves the skin somewhere between dewey and matte. The scent is very much like other Re-Nutriv products, a very clean, subtle scent, very distinctive, very Estee Lauder. It is a wonderful moisturizer, regardless of any claims Estee Lauder makes, it moisturizes very well and didn't make my combo skin extremely shiney. My skin felt good, looked good and I was mostly impressed. Estee Lauder makes quality products for a variety of skin types and concerns.

If this product did not contain mica or titanium dioxide I would consider it one of the best I've used. Mica and Titanium Dioxide tend to cause me deep, painful, breakouts. Why companies feel the need to use them in their products knowing they may cause people breakouts is beyond me.

Jun 1, 2009

Chanel Precision Ultra Correction Nuit

Chanel Ultra Correction Nuit Restructuring Anti-Wrinkle FIrming Night Cream is part of Chanel's Precision skin care line.

This creamy pink product is very thick and lush. The scent is very light as similar to the other Chanel skin care products. This cream absorbs well leaving and dries to a fairly matte finish. It feels great on my skin and makes my skin feel powdery and soft. The packaging is beautiful and looks very high-end.

According to Chanel this product: "Be firm. Look young. Correct every sign of age. This rich, yet delicate moisturizing night cream dispenses water and ingredients during the night, when skin is predisposed to renew itself. Adhesioderm firms and resculpts; it's as if surface skin is 'bonded' to its support system. Exclusive Life Cycle Regenerator dramatically reduces the appearance of wrinkles. The look of youth is restored."

Because this is such a thick, rich, product, it is probably meant for use by those with drier or more mature skin types needed extram moistuure and firming.

A 1.7 ounce jar of this cream retails for $115.00 and is available at the hihger end departments stores and Chanel.

Ingredients: Unavailable.