Beauty411

LaMer Introduces The Hydrating Facial

La Mer's The Hydrating Facial is a luxurious sensorial, spa-like experience created to reawaken the appearance of youth.  The perfect prep to get skin ready or to withstand the harshities of the fall/winter climate changes, The Hydrating Facial is a two-zoned mask designed to deliver superior hydration.  In minutes, dry complexions are renewed, visibly transforming the skin. Skin is left hydrated, nourished, smoothed and conditioned with a resilient healthy glow. 

New from Kate Somerville: HydraKate Line Release Face Serum

Always looking to build on her line of anti-aging products, Kate Somerville introduces HydraKate Line Release™ Face Serum.  The innovative and active ingredients in HydraKate Line Release™ Face Serum give you immediate tightening effects and reduce the depth of expression wrinkles. A blend of peptides and collagen builders help to improve skin texture and tone.

• HSC Complex - Counters loss of lipids from skin due to washing, stress, environment or excessive UV exposure.
• Hyaluronic Acid - Aids in holding water in the skin's surface to increase softness and suppleness.
• Leuphasyl™ - Reduces the depth of expression wrinkles and is a safer alternative to Botulinum Toxin A.

I haven't had the opportunity to try HydraKate Line Release™ Face Serum yet, but I do know that I've liked every Kate Somerville product I have tried.  I'll be putting this on my "must try" list.

Kate Somerville's HydraKate Line Release™ Face Serum retails at $150 and is available at retailers including Nordstrom (Nordstrom.com), QVC and www.katesomerville.com.

Bulgari Gem Essence Skincare

Bulgari, a name synonymous with extraordinary gemstones, has taken that knowledge and developed a luxury line of skin care, Bulgari Gem Essence Skincare.  The Cosmetic Research Department of Bulgari, based in Switzerland, was created to bring together dermatologists and other experts to create exceptional skin care treatments based on the the natural properties of precious stones and latest technology.  Who better?

The key ingredient of Bulgari skin care is Bulgari Gem Essence; a combination of gems in liquid and powdered form.  The gems use four extracts of fine and precious stones that were chosen for their beneficial effects on the skin--sapphire, malachite, tourmaline and citrine.

Obagi Condition & Enhance Skin Care System

Obagi Condition & Enhance is a skin care system that combines 4% hydroquinone together with  tretinoin, and which has been specifically designed to be used daily to optimize facial procedure results, such as Botox, dermal fillers, chemical peels and IPL (intense pulsed light treatments).  The Condition & Enhance System, which utilizes Obagi Medical’s Penetrating Therapeutics™ technology, helps to correct photodamaged skin, promote and maintain the overall health of the skin and prevent future skin damage. 

The Obagi Condition & Enhance System has four components: to prepare, repair, stimulate and maintain and protect the skin.  There are products that correspond to each step. 

• Prepare:  Gentle Cleanser or Foaming Gel and Toner  are the steps that start the regimen.  These products are applied in the morning and evening.
• Repair:  The repair step includes Clear, a 4% Hydroquinone cream to correct hyperpigmentation and improve skin tone and Exfoderm or Exfoderm Forte, a product that removes old skin cells while promoting development of new skin cells for a lighter, brighter, firmer complexion.
• Stimulate & Maintain:  This step includes Blender, which is a 4% Hydroquinone cream, used to correct hyperpigmentation and optimize the penetration of active ingredients and Tretinoin (as prescribed), which stimulates the production of collagen and is a potent anti-wrinkle cream.
• Protect:  Sun protection is essential to prevent future damage.  Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35 is a combination Zinc Oxide/Octinoxiate sunscreen that is applied daily in the morning.

The Obagi Condition & Enhance System does take committment; it takes approximately 3 months for the complete cycle of turning over old skin cells and creating new ones, to stimulate collagen and elastin production, treat hyperpigmentation and firm and tighten skin. You should, however, begin to see results within the first 6 weeks of use.

I've been using the Obagi Condition & Enhance System for approximately 5 weeks and I'm beginning to see slight improvement (lightening) in stubborn areas of hyperpigmentation.  I plan to stay committed to the process and continue to use the system for at least another 6 weeks.  What impresses me most about the Obagi Condition & Enhance System is that the components of the system are all clinically proven to work.  Simple as that.  Taking care of your skin is a good investment, in time, effort and value.

The Obagi Condition & Enhance System is available through dermatologist, plastic surgeon or skincare specialists' offices.  For more information, check out www.obagi.com and  www.ConditionAndEnhance.com/.

Chanel Introduces Ultra Correction Lift Skin Care

 

CHANEL has introduced Ultra Correction Lift, a line of four products that uses a plant-based protein to help firm and lift skin from within. 

CHANEL scientists have discovered that the skin's actual structure is as important to the aging process as the lack of collagen and elastin--typical markers of aging. They have determined that a protein called Tensin helps anchor and connect cells to the skin's dermal network and the key to helping restore tensin to its youthful level is an exclusive, powerful ingredient called Elemi PFA.  Elemi PFA, the star ingredient in Ultra Correction Lift, restores Tensin to youthful levels and thus renders skin's appearance lifted and toned.

There are four products in the ULTRA CORRECTION LIFT line:

• Ultra Correction Lift Sculpting Firming Concentrate 5.0 oz. $165.00
• Ultra Correction Lift Lifting Firming Day Fluid SPF15 1.7 oz. $150.00
• Ultra Correction Lift Lifting Firming Day Cream SPF15 1.7 oz. $150.00
• Ultra Correction Lift Lifting Firming Night Cream 1.7 oz. $165.00

The CHANEL Ultra Correction Lift line of skin care is appropriate for a more mature woman who is looking for a lifting effect on her skin. The concept behind this line makes sense; I'm anxious to try it to see for myself how well it works. 

The CHANEL Ultra Lift Collection is available at www.CHANEL.com, select CHANEL boutiques and department stores.

iS Clinical Skincare: Youth Complex and Active Serum

iS Clinical by Innovative Skincare is a cosmeceutical company that produces a results oriented, pharmaceutical grade, botanically based line of skin care products.  When I was contacted by the company to see if I'd be interested in trying a couple of the anti-aging products, I was eager to for the chance to evaluate them myself. 

iS Clinical Youth Complex is a targeted anti-wrinkle formula made up of a unique blend of potent anti-oxidants, natural hydrators and an exclusive INNOVASE bio-complex.  Youth Complex stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Key ingredients include two forms of hyaluronic acid to plump skin, fruit acids and Copper Tripeptide Growth Factor.

Youth Complex claims to deliver immediate, intermediate and long term results.  While I didn't see "immediate"--within hours--type of results, in using Youth Complex for the past 4 weeks, I have indeed noticed significant improvement in the tone, texture and appearance of my skin.  Youth Complex is a medium-weight cream that is applied in the morning, after cleansing.  Youth Complex can be used by all skin types; I didn't experience any burning or sensitivity.  $135

Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex revolutionizes skincare with new patented technology that helps repair skin damage from all known environmental toxins.  It's hard to believe that the original Advanced Night Repair has been around since 1982.  It wasn't long after that, that I started using it (and did for years), because there was really nothing else like it on the market.

So how does new Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex compare to the original formula?  Technology has now made it possible to not only repair past damage, but to help prevent future damage by helping to restore skin's DNA at night. 

Utilizing Chronolux™ Technology,  this serum provides and optimizes skin's nighttime repair and protection processes to help skin look younger.  In addition, a proprietary blend of anti-oxidants plus high levels of Hyaluronic Acid work to help create the ideal environment for skin's natural protection and repair.  This new formula helps safeguard skin's future by neutralizing up to 90% of free radicals--very impressive!

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex retails at $47.50 (1 oz.bottle) is availble at Estee Lauder counters now and online at www.esteelauder.com.

New Refissa™ Topical Tretinoin Cream

Refissa, a new topical formulation of Tretinoin, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Refissa is the only 0.05% prescription strength, fragrance-free, emollient-based Tretinoin Cream specifically indicated for dry skin.  This topical Tretinoin cream helps to reduce fine facial wrinkles, rough skin and irregular pigmentation.

Most dermatologists view topical retinoids as the cornerstone of treatment for sun damaged skin and acne. Most retinoids, however, are formulated and indicated exclusively for the treatment of acne.

Among topical retinoids, Tretinoin is the "Gold Standard" of treatments, and Refissa, formulated in a moisturizing base, is an ideal option for mature patients with drier photo damaged skin.  Sunscreen should be used in conjunction with retinoid products, including Refissa.

In the interest of fair balance, it should be noted that there are other FDA-approved Tretinoin products on the market, such as Renova and Retin-A.  Those products differ in their formulation, indication and price. A 40 gram tube of Refissa may last 2-3 months, depending on individual usage patterns and costs on average, less than $2.00 per day.

Refissa, from Spear Dermatology Products, Inc, is available by prescription only. Full prescribing and safety information, as well as patient package insert can be found at www.refissa.com.

Sunday Night Beauty Rituals

Do you have a Sunday Night Beauty Ritual?  A weekly beauty or in-home spa treatment that you do once a week?  Every Sunday night (without fail), I do a mask.  I find that applying a mask can be a great anti-aging treatment, usually providing deep exfoliation or firming benefits.  And the other benefit is that it allows me 10-15 minutes of uninterrupted time to catch my breath and relax.

These are the tested, tried and true masks in my Sunday night rotation:

Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Mask:  This gentle cream mask helps to restore firmness and elasticity to the skin.   A White Clay base absorbs impurities while the mineral Quartz, along with with marine extract Padina Pavonica, anti-oxidants Moringa Oil and Argan Tree Oil help to increase hydration, improve elasticity and reduce crepiness.  Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Mask retails at $75.00 and is available at Bergdorf Goodman, select Nordstrom doors, NORDSTROM.com and www.timetospa.com.

REVALESKIN Intense Recovery Treatment

 

REVALESKIN Intense Recovery Treatment is a new product in the anti-aging skincare category.  REVALESKIN revolutionized the skincare industry with the introduction of CoffeeBerry.  CoffeeBerry extract is a natural "super anti-oxidant".  This "super anti-oxidant" amps up your anti-aging regimen by helping to fend off free radicals; molecules that cause cell damage and result in processes that lead to signs of aging.

REVALESKIN Intense Recovery Treatment has the distinction of having the most potent concentration of super-antioxidant CoffeeBerry extract offered in skin care at 1.5%.  Intense Recovery Treatment is perfect for skin that is overexposed to weather or extreme environments or is overly dry.  It can be used to help restore sensitive skin.  Intense Recovery Treatment would be an excellent product to help restore and protect skin after noninvasive cosmetic procedures.