As we age, our skin slowly begins to lose volume and collagen; elastin production decreases and the natural forces of gravity starts to pull the skin downwards. All of these natural processes lead to the loss of a cushiony-type texture to the skin that keeps the face looking youthful and plump. With so many products on the market to choose from, Clinique will soon offer one that is a giant multi-tasker…

New Repairwear Uplifting Firming Cream is formulated with ingredients to keep the skin firm, restore its texture and also volumize the skin’s appearance. It has a nice weight to it, yet blends into the skin rather easily when applied. It has a multitasking ingredient called mitosomes — a botanical extract derived from brown algae harvested off the coast of France that provides the energy needed for skin cells to increase in volume. I felt my skin become hydrated right away, as well as a slight tightening sensation with this 100% fragrance-free face cream.

This product was created to ‘revolumize’ the skin layer by layer (hypodermis, dermis and epidermis) and will be available in two skin type formulas that should be applied both in the morning and night, preferably after their 3-Step Skin Care Regimen. Like many other skin care products, this face cream can take up to 4 weeks to notice visible results.

All Clinique products are: Allergy Tested, 100% Fragrance-Free, Oil-Free, Non-Acnegenic, Dermatologist Tested and Ophthalmologist Tested.

In March 2012, it will be available at Clinique counters nationwide and at www.clinique.com for $58.00.

- Nicole Gordon Levine

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I am in my early 40s and have been using Clinique products for years. It started with their toner, then their moisturizing cream, and so on. I also am a huge fan of their ad campaigns as they normally feature JUST their products, which I find refreshing among so much stimuli in many cosmetic and skincare ad campaigns. I also have sensitive skin and many years ago Clinique stood out to me as being the only hypoallergenic brand when I used to shop at Macy’s Herald Square.

Clinique introduced the Even Better franchise back in 2008 to address hyperpigmentation for women of all skin tones, and years later the need for these types of products has only grown.

Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 20 was designed to feature a multi-prong approach to address the overall uneven skin tone of all ethnicities. It is meant to prevent and reduce the appearance of excess pigments on the skin, deter new spots from forming, break-up existing dark spots into less visible particles, leave the skin looking more evenly toned and also take away and remove melanin through exfoliation. This one product has all these components within: that spells PRACTICALITY to me.

The fact that there is also SPF 20 helps to protect the skin’s barrier against the environment including the harmful UVA and UVB rays. To understand why this works, I will break down the benefits of each ingredient:

- Seaweed derived Laminaria Saccharina Extract to help regulate excess oil production

- Silica and Trimenthylol Hexyliactone Crosspolymers leave the skin velvety smooth

- Ellagic Acid and Vitamin C help reduce the appearance of dark spots

- Pyrus Malus (Apple) Extract and Cucumis (Cucumber) Extract soothe irritated skin

- Advanced Yeast Blend provides brightening results

- Sucrose/Trehalose help attract and maintain moisture levels in the skin.

I liked the small amount needed from the pump to apply over my entire face and will have to give this product at least four weeks to formulate a true opinion of its effectiveness on my dark spots; I have quite a few from the days of sun bathing (with baby oil and reflectors, yikes!) and I truly hope this product breaks them down and makes them less noticeable. Only time will tell.

Launching in April, it will be available at Clinique counters nationwide and www.clinique.com as well for $44.50.

Nicole Gordon Levine

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Think you know everything about pores? Well, do you know that you need some of that sebum to help balance your skin’s hydration? Cosmetic chemist Upasana Sahu gives us the rundown on how to properly care for our pores, along with some beneficial product recommendations from dermatologists.

Pores are basically small openings on the skin where hair follicles grow that keep our skin hydrated by producing sebum. We all have pores and we need them. But we don’t want them to be so large that it’s the only thing we see when we look in the mirror!

Pores may be more prominent on the nose, cheeks and chin where you have most of your oil glands. Usually, pores are barely visible. But when you don’t wash your face for long periods of time dead skin cells, sebum and dirt can build-up on the skin.

According to Dermatologist Audrey Kunin M.D., “these substances can build-up around the edges of the pores giving them a larger appearance than they really are.”

Large facial pores are usually due to genetics or highly active oil glands, and tend to be more of an issue for women than men. People with dry, thin skin are less prone to having enlarged pores than those with more oily, thicker skin. Blackheads: facial pores that have become clogged with dirt, oil and dead skin that gather into a ball, are usually the result of having large pores. If the blackhead is very large in size, it will expand the pore’s diameter.

Pores are more severe in adults than in teens. The sun and natural aging are the two biggest culprits of large pores in adults. According to Dr. Eric F. Bernstein, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, “exposing the skin to sun’s harmful UV radiation can over time damage elastin and collagen fibers [two key compounds that give your skin elasticity]. This can lead to premature aging. This causes the same effects on pores as natural aging does, but at an accelerated rate.” When the elasticity in your skin begins to decrease, it can make the pores dilate and increase in size.

Exfoliating your face about three times a week could eliminate extra oil that causes pore ducts to enlarge. So, use a gentle facial scrub. Although it is essential, too much exfoliation can lead to rather large pores. When too much oil is removed, the oil glands may produce more oil to compensate. Diane Berson, M.D. recommends using a scrub that contains 2 % salicylic acid such as Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub.

Salicylic acid seeps deep into the sebum-packed pore, exfoliating the dead skin cells built upside down. Always wash your face with warm water as steam will open up pores and unclog them. Many acne cleansers also include a mild exfoliant like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or sulfur. Professional facials are great for deep pore cleansing and extracting nasty blackheads.

At home microdermabrasion kits like the DermaNew Microdermabrasion Facial Rejuvenation System and Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Face Cream are also great options. Dr. Ellen Marmur, Chief of Dermatologic and Cosmetic Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City recommends to “optimize your daily routine by picking a product that reduces inflammation and helps to build new collagen to tighten the pores. Try StriVectin Overnight Facial Resurfacing Serum or The Olay Pro-X Clear Acne Protocol Kit. [And remember to] always wear sunscreen – my favorite is NIA24 Sun Damage Prevention 100% Mineral Sunscreen or Chanel UV Essentiel Multi-Protection Daily UV Care SPF 50 lotion.”

Cleansing and exfoliation, in short, are important for achieving healthy skin. So, ladies, are you going to face your pores or ignore them? Post a comment below! 

- cosmetic chemist, Upasana Sahu

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Once again Giorgio Armani has raised the bar on skincare while still promoting the ‘regenerate skin’s light flow from within’ campaign.

The Regenessence [3.R] High Lift Multi-Firming Rejuvenating Rich Cream (available for $150) is proven via independent test results to improve the skin’s tone by 65%. This product is intended for both AM and PM use to maximize the results.  It does have a light weight feel to it and applied very smoothly on my face.

I also sampled the Regenessence [3.R] High High Lift Multi-Firming Rejuvenating Eye Balm (available for $ 100) which felt lightweight and soothing upon application. I have sensitive eyes and this product did not tingle or irritate me in any way thus far; it is recommended to be applied both during the day and at night.

I just love hydrating my skin and felt no stiffness over the past week from any of these products as the word ‘multi-firming’ at first made me envision a not so supple-looking face, yet this was not the case at all. 80% of women who tested this product noted that their skin was smoother and 94% noted it was more supple. I do believe this skincare line is onto something fabulous and innovative. Light plays such an important part of every ad campaign, head shot, etc and I can see why Armani tapped into this concept of light reflecting off the skin leaving a more even skintone.

Available at www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa beginning in May as well as other fine department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

- Nicole Gordon Levine

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Just looking at the packaging, radiance and light are associated with the new Giorgio Armani skincare line, Luminessence. It’s supposedly the first of its kind to harness the natural power of light to brighten the skin from within by using it’s Bright Regen Technology. Being that light is the essence behind all of Armani’s collections, it naturally made sense that it would also apply to his skincare line. Seeing 100% satisfaction were the results from a group of 150 women polled after 4 weeks of using the product had me wondering, what exactly was in this product, and will it do what it claims to?

Please note there are four products in the line and are intended to be a time- saving daily regimen built on a clinically proven results; it is used to brighten the skin but is also used on wrinkles. Each product is packed with active ingredients that could be used as a standalone treatment.

I sampled the Luminessence Bright Regenerator Concentrate, which had a beautiful, light floral scent and was lightweight in texture, too. I have seen in the past when dark shadows are erased, that light is allowed to illuminate and make it look more even toned and poreless. I noticed just a few days after using the concentrate that my skin did look better in tone and overall texture. Bright Regen Technology boasts that it allows light to travel evenly throughout the skin to dark spots, red spots, pores and wrinkles. It comes packed with the latest exfoliating fruit acids and a novel de-pigmentation ingredient called ACTYL-C that is supposed to diminish dark spots. Like I mentioned earlier, I did see a difference in the overall tone of my skin and hopefully, over time, I would like to see some of my age spots and red spots diminish in color.

Also available in the line is the Luminessence Bright Primer Essence which is a brightening treatment made with an ultra fresh concentrated formula to hydrate and infuse the skin with light.

The Luminessence Bright Revelator Universal Greige BB Fluid  contains Armani’s signature greige shade that lights the face with purity, transparency and evenness. It is intended to hydrate, plump, and smooth the face while also leaving a rosy glow. It also has the highest UV protection on the market, SPF 50, to ensure that the results of the brightening treatment won’t disappear the first time you are out in the sun! The lotions are $85.00 and the serum/concentrate is $185.00 and are soon to be available in May online at www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com and at Armani Fifth Avenue and select fine department stores including, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

- Nicole Gordon Levine

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The Equinol Dark Spot Concentrate (priced at $39.50) is a gentle formula (containing ingredients like bark, grapefruit, and rice bran extracts) that can be used safely in combination with other skincare products.

The product – containing SR12 Complex, Vitamin C and glucosamine – claims to diminish spots due to sun exposure, even out an irregular skin tone and prevent new discolorations from forming.

Okay, I was skeptical when I first tried this product and frankly did not expect it to work. But, I faithfully applied it morning and night (under both my day/night moisturizers, etc.) to a certain dark patch that came from my heedless sun worshipping years ago.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that it worked!

Before:

After:

The patch is not entirely gone, but it has definitely lightened in the eight or nine weeks I have been using the product. I plan to keep using it and expect that in the coming weeks, the dark patch will fade even more.  I can not say, however, if it prevents further damage. It does not contain any sunscreen and now that I am older and wiser, I am obsessive about sunscreen; I apply sunscreen to my face even when it is overcast or pouring rain. But finding a product to correct my youthful follies is a real plus; call me a believer!

You can give this dark spot-reducing concentrate a try by purchasing it at Kohls.com. And if you’re concerned about large pores, check out the sister product called Z-Pore Instant Pore Refiner.

- Yona McDonough

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This is a new, unscented version of the original Olay Regenerist Miscro-Sculpting Cream has been on the market for a while. The manufacturer claims it contains a “high concentration of Regenerist’s exclusive amino-peptide complex to help regenerate cells at the skin’s surface and retain moisture by strengthening skin’s moisture barrier” with the addition of “Olay-exclusive intracellular fortifier made up of hylauronic acid [a natural filler substance] and glycerin to help restore volume and fullness to the skin.”

Sounds like serious science to moi! Undaunted by all that jargon, I began using the cream morning and evening (as recommended) hoping to see an improvement in my winter-challenged complexion.  I’ll confess, I like products that contain a pleasant fragrance, so I missed opening the jar and inhaling a whiff of something luscious. But I am aware that fragrance often equals to facial skin irritation, so I understand the appeal of a fragrance-free product to many women.

First, the texture.  It’s not so much whipped as it is condensed, thick as butter, not light as cream. Again, in the middle of January, this is a plus. It went on easily and absorbed well. And in a few days, I noticed a definite boost in skin tone and color; my skin is a little softer, more rosy and just a little better-looking than it was before.

I will continue using this throughout the winter, and am expecting even greater improvements in the weeks ahead.  I should add that the price – somewhere around $25 – is excellent for a product as rich as this one.  With face creams costing in the high three and even four digits these days, the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, Fragrance-Free formula is a real bargain.

Think this cream will work for you? Check out what Yona had to say about the Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex.

GIVEAWAY: We’re giving away THREE full-size jars to 3 lucky fans.  To enter, leave us a comment below telling us why you’d like to try this new fragrance-free formula. BONUS points by inviting your friends to give us a LIKE on Facebook by clicking ….> HERE!

US only please! We apologize to our International fans.

- Yona McDonaugh

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LIGHTFUL MARINE BRIGHT: A NATURAL UPGRADE TO THE ORIGINAL LIGHTFUL, OUR UNIQUE MARINE-BRIGHT FORMULA FEATURES THREE SEAWEEDS HARVESTED FROM THE WORLD’S OCEANS. NOURISH, HYDRATE, DE-OXIDIZE AND FORTIFY THE SKIN AGAINST KEY AGGRESSORS – EXCESS MELANIN AND FREE-RADICALS – WHILE PROGRESSIVELY SHIFTING THE COMPLEXION TOWARD A MORE EVENLY PIGMENTED RADIANCE. ADDING TO THIS TRIO’S POTENCY: OUR OWN SUPER-DUO CHARGED WATER, LIGHTFUL CLEANSER, ESSENCE, MOISTURE CREME, AND SOFTENING LOTION. YOUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT!

M·A·C LIGHTFUL CLEANSER

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE $25.00 U.S./$30.00 CDN

M·A·C LIGHTFUL SOFTENING LOTION

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE $30.00 U.S./$36.00 CDN

M·A·C LIGHTFUL ESSENCE

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE $40.00 U.S./$48.00 CDN

M·A·C LIGHTFUL MOISTURE CREME

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE $40.00 U.S./$48.00 CDN

Available North America February 23, 2012 and International February 2012 at select M·A·C locations and www.maccosmetics.com.

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The Utra-Detox Treatment-Mask is said to have been created with exceptional revitalizing and detoxifying effectiveness due to the heart of it’s formula, Detoxinyle ™. Detoxinyle ™ is marketed as a powerful and natural detoxifying agent that when in contact with the skin, transforms into a melt-away mask to deliver its powerful ingredients deep inside the skins cells. The directions say to apply a generous amount and then leave on for 5 to 10 minutes maximum.

I know that $95.00 is not pocket change, but this product will last for quite a while and based on the results, I’m not sure I can live without it.

Available at Dior counters and www.dior.com for $ 95.00.  So tell us, will you checking out this new mask?  Leave a comment below to let us know.

- Nicole Gordon Levine

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Using her knowledge of Native American botanicals that benefit the skin, Sunday plans to help make her client’s skin appear ageless. Her Modern Skincare line with NV-5 Ageless Complex is a proprietary blend of 5 Native American botanicals. What are they you ask? Well, I wanted to know too….

The NV-5 Ageless Complex is comprised of Blue Agave, Biofermented Aloe and Yeast Extract, Lady’s Slipper Orchid, Prickly Pear Cactus and Queen of the Night Cactus. This formula was designed to fight cellular inflammation and detoxify the skin for long lasting radiance. It’s considered “Green Technology” which means a union of botanicals and biotechnology. The brand firmly believes that ideal skincare is based on this perfect union.

The three products I samples are listed below and the outer packaging is clean, crisp and easy to read with full explanations of what the product inside are as well as precise direction for use. The “Good Genes” outer packaging reminded me of Rachel Zoe’s exude lipstick. It consists of an ecru, two piece gift box with a full color label on the outside. It was appealing to my “marketing eye”. Same goes for “Juno” Transformative Body Lipid Serum and “Skin Adrenaline” Anti-Aging Concentrate.

JUNO:

A rare, dry oil absolute that gives skin an obsession-worthy glow. A patent-pending blend of lightweight, fast absorbing oils extremely high in natural retinol, Vitamin C, Essential Amino Acids, Omega-3, 6, & 9, UV shields, and natural Anti-Inflammatory agents for luminous skin. Anti-Aging, anti-oxidant.

This dry oil formula spreads easily and is fast absorbing. I did pick up on a scent yet I am uncertain of what it is exactly. I don’t mind it though as sometimes I am sensitive to perfumes in skincare products.

$125.00 at Barney’s or by visiting either www.barneys.com or  www.sundayriley.com

GOOD GENES: 
Everyone wants the unmistakable look of having “good genes”. This treatment is formulated with key ingredients which will plump fine lines, reveal brighter, newer skin, and improve circulation, offering a smooth, vibrant complexion. Long term use will restore damaged skin, reduce hyper pigmentation and acne scars, reduce the depth and number of lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, & increase epidermal firmness and thickness.

Great to use 5 days in a row as an intensive radiance treatment or anytime you want to impress. Can be applied daily for reviving skin which is damaged by excessive UV exposure, aging, acne scars, pollution, lifestyle. I found it to add a touch of glow to my skin and started to see a difference in the texture of my skin after day three of use. My skin appeared to be more vibrant and smooth looking. Long term use is intended to reduce hyper-pigmentation, scars, the depth of number of fine lines, even out skin tome and increase your skin’s firmness and thickness.

$ 105.00 at Barneys or by visiting either www.barneys.com or www.sundayriley.com

SKIN ADRENALINE:

Instant Radiance Booster. Layers perfectly under Bionic, Cashmere SPF or Good Genes. Maximum Concentrations of Key Actives which: Rejuvenate Lackluster and Damaged Skin, Build Youthful Collagen, Accelerate Healthy Skin Growth, & Provide Skin Nutrition for Regeneration. Provides essential lipids. Hydrating, Anti-Pollution, Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Aging.

Leaves Skin Smooth and Glowing, Instantly. Moisturizes without petrochemicals. Can be used on all skin types as a serum or as a light moisturizer during humid months or if you have oily skin…you can use it year round. It’s lightweight and a little goes a long way. Once again, this is suitable for even oily skin and is intended to both prevent and reverse your skin’s aging process.

$ 185.00 at Barneys or by visiting either www.barneys.com or www.sundayriley.com

I can say I am officially addicted to Sunday Riley’s products and a little goes a long way if you are put off by the prices of these products. Sunday Riley avoids formulas with petrochemicals such as mineral oil, petrolatum, etc. and opts for more expensive and natural components. I sampled three, yet there is also Bionic (Anti-Aging Cream for $ 225.00), Cashmere spf 30 (Sun Defense for $ 125.00), Start Over (Active Eye Cream for $ 85.00), Disrobe ( Beyond Body Lotion for $ 65.00) and Liquid Diet (Water Weight Reducing Body Treatment for $ 105.00).

When a beauty lover such as myself cannot wait to run home to take off all of my make up so I can apply Sunday Riley’s products…you know this skincare line must be special!  So tell us, will you be looking to pick up some Sunday Riley products?  Post a comment below to let us know.

- Nicole Gordon Levine

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